Glow of hope: IISc researchers develop low-cost probe for early detection of liver cancer
Scientists at IISc Bengaluru have created a low-cost paper sensor that spots an enzyme linked to liver cancer.
It glows green under UV light, and you only need a basic UV lamp plus free software to use it—no fancy lab gear required.
How the sensor works
The team, led by Uday Maitra, honorary professor in the department of organic chemistry, IISc, used terbium ions in a special gel that lights up when exposed to UV.
By adding a coated compound called 2,3-DHN, they made the glow stronger and easier to detect than with older methods.
Potential to improve disease detection in low-resource settings
This sensor can catch tiny amounts of the enzyme—levels even lower than those found in advanced liver disease.
Since high levels of this enzyme are also seen in other cancers and some infections, this simple tool could help doctors catch serious illnesses earlier, especially where resources are limited.