Current Affairs
Daily Bits

Paper sensor’ developed by IIT Madras could help detect & monitor antimicrobial pollutants

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Science & Technology
  • Published
    7th May, 2021

Context

A new paper sensor is developed by IIT Madras in collaboration with UK researchers.

About the paper sensor technique research

  • The research was funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, in collaboration with the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
  • It is a low cost an, paper-based sensor.
  • It could be helpful to tackle antimicrobial resistance that is becoming a worldwide health crisis.
  • The research also suggested that “periodic monitoring” of these pollutants will be key in assessing the status of antimicrobial resistance in India.
  • The sensor has been developed on the basis of a ‘see and tell’ mechanism.
  • It is logistically efficient and ensures wide implementation.
  • It has fabricated devices [the sensor] for the detection of antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, biocides such as triclosan and heavy metals such as chromium, copper and lead.
  • These devices can be used for antimicrobial resistance surveillance in water bodies.

Antimicrobial resistance

  • It threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi.
  • It occurs when microbes like bacteria, viruses and fungi no longer respond to medicines, making these infections harder to treat.
  • Water bodies, especially, have emerged to be a source of “dissemination and transfer” of antimicrobial resistance.

Verifying, please be patient.

X