GUWAHATI, Aug. 8: Researchers at IIT Guwahati have developed a low-cost handheld device capable of rapidly detecting bacteria, marking another achievement in scientific research in Assam.
The innovation could make bacterial detection faster, more accessible and efficient, with potential applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring and scientific research.
The device was developed by IIT Guwahati professors Parameswar K Iyer of the Department of Chemistry and Siddhartha S Ghosh of the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, along with former PhD scholars Anamika Dey, Ashish Singh and Deepanjalee Dutta from the Centre for Nanotechnology.
At the core of the device is an Organic Field Effect Transistor (OFET), which enables it to detect bacteria and distinguish between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The technology could simplify a process that traditionally requires laboratory-based testing and bacterial culture before analysis.
The research has been patented and published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Beyond healthcare, the technology could have applications in environmental monitoring and other specialised fields, including anti-bioterrorism measures.
The development highlights the contribution of Assam’s research institutions to innovation and the creation of technologies aimed at addressing real-world challenges.
