Research Projects

In accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, India accounts for one-fifth of cardiovascular disease (CVD) related deaths worldwide, especially in the younger population. The results of Global Burden of Disease study state an age-standardized CVD death rate of 272 per 100000 population in India which is much higher than the global average of 235. CVDs strike Indians a decade earlier than the western population. At present, India has the highest burden of acute coronary syndrome and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI). The early diagnosis of MI within the first six hours is essential for the initiation of therapy. The longer the time between the cardiac event and therapy, the chances of complications and mortality escalate. Hence, any device which will help to diagnose the condition preferably at home will help to diagnose the condition early and initiate early intervention. The present study has been planned to develop a gold nanoparticle-based lateral flow assay device for the early diagnosis of MI preferably within the first hour of onset of symptoms. The two markers that have been chosen as diagnostic indicators are troponin I and heart fatty acid binding protein-3 (FABP).