The University of Guntur has developed a unique paper sensor that measures vitamin D deficiency with high accuracy. Additionally, they claim to be one of the most affordable sensors for Vitamin D deficiency in the market.
Dr Pradeep Kumar Brahman, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, and Tummala Anusha, research scholar, have developed the sensor. The sensor will provide a reliable and fast way to measure vitamin D deficiencies, and it will be useful to smaller clinics and dispensaries in remote areas that do not have access to large or bulky equipment. Publications of the work have also been made in international journals.
DESIGN OF SENSOR
Sensors are developed by printing electrodes on A4 photocopier paper using specially designed ink containing cobalt silver doped copolymer ionic liquid and detecting vitamin D deficiency with it. It is then dipped into a serum sample, along with two electrodes. Amperometric measurements are recorded at a constant potential. The current obtained corresponds to the level of vitamin D concentration. Three electrodes are connected to a potentiostat, which is connected to a monitor on which the technician can view the vitamin D sensor’s results.
COST OF SENSOR
Compared with commercially available tests for vitamin D, which can be found in hospitals and labs for around Rs 1,500 to Rs 2000, this paper sensor costs about Rs 40 to 50. KLU tested several samples and found that the accuracy of this sensor is over 94 percent, which is at the same level as commercially available tests. Within 30 minutes, the sensor produces results and generates reports, saving precious time for diagnostics.
STATEMENT OF DR PRADEEP KUMAR
In his remarks, Professor Pradeep Kumar Brahman, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at K L (DTU) said that this is the first-of-its-kind and most affordable Vitamin D deficiency sensor available in the country and internationally. Developing countries like India will be able to afford Vitamin D deficiency testing. It took us two years to complete the research and develop this pioneering product. Handmade sensors such as this one are accurate and reliable for monitoring vitamin D deficiency in remote areas with limited resources.”
BENEFITS OF SENSOR
Tummala Anusha, Research Scholar, said, “Indians rarely get tested for Vitamin D deficiency because it often goes undetected. In response to the growing concern of Vitamin D deficiency scenario in the country, we developed for the first time a portable and low-cost handmade paper sensor that can effectively diagnose vitamin D deficiency in clinical samples. KL University provided us with resources that facilitated our work. We hope the product reaches remote areas with little access to Vitamin D testing.”
KL Deemed-to-be-University has filed 433 patent applications so far, and 96 have already been granted. So far, the institute has published 11,270 research papers in the fields of science, engineering, humanities, and management. The institute has also completed sponsored projects worth 32.76 crore and is currently working on projects worth 49.33 crore.
