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Cancer cell detection
Why is it in news?
- A team of scientists in Assam has developed a chemical process that turns ‘dirty’ coal into a biomedical ‘dot’ to help detect cancer cells.
More in news
- Unique chemical method of producing carbon quantum dots (CQDs): The team has applied for a patent for their chemical method of producing carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from cheap, abundant, low-quality and high-sulphur coals.
- Carbon quantum dots (CQDs):(1) CQDs are carbon-based nanomaterials whose size is less than 10 nm, or nanometre.(2) Carbon-based nanomaterials are used as diagnostic tools for bio-imaging, especially in detecting cancer cells, for chemical sensing and in opto-electronics.
- Details about process:(1) A few chemical companies in the U.S. and Japan have been manufacturing CQDs.(2) Indian scientists developed fluorescent carbon nanomaterials at one-twentieth the cost of imported CQDs.
- Characteristics of developed CQDs: The CQDs that the CSIR-NEIST team developed emit a bluish colour with high-stability, good-conductivity, low-toxicity, environmental friendliness, and good optical properties.
- Futuristic materials: Scientists said CQDs are futuristic materials whose demand in India has been increasing leading to a considerable volume of import.
- Import substitution: The CSIR-NEIST technology can produce approximately 1 litre of CQDs per day at a low cost to become an import substitute.
- Use of environment-friendly reagents and less water: This process uses less water than methods and has environment-friendly reagents.
Source
The Hindu