Research Projects

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common abdominal illness with limited laboratory-based tests available for diagnosis. Traditional enzymes are used as diagnostic indicators, but they lack prognosticators for disease severity. Technological advancements have led to the development of rapid diagnostic tests, particularly point-of-care tests, which can improve healthcare services in diverse settings. Point-of-care devices are needed for early diagnosis and treatment of conditions like AP. The project aims to develop a rapid, reliable, and low-cost platform for acute pancreatitis detection and disease severity identification in a single run, with increased sensitivity and specificity. The hypothesis is to improve sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and stability through bio-functionalization strategies involving nanoparticles and buffer design. The device will have dual sample chambers for urine and blood, enhancing simplicity by reducing the number of assay steps. Experiments include fabrication of the device with dual sample zones, detection zones for multiple biomarkers, modification of detection zones with different bio-functionalization strategies, and digital imaging using colorimetric sensors. This method can serve as an effective diagnostic test device for persons with sudden-onset abdominal pain as a point-of-care device. It is simple to operate without any specific instrument and suitable for bedside detection. By bringing expensive diagnostic tests devices into the hands of common people, this project will change the paradigm of healthcare in India, making it more accessible and cost-effective for patients.