New sensors measure blood anti-coagulation drug

Iranian researchers from Isfahan University of Technology produced a highly sensitive and accurate sensor which can measure a type of blood anti-coagulation drug.

The sensor was produced through a simple and cost-effective method and its application does not require advanced skills.

Protamine is an important drug that is used as an anti-heparin agent to prevent blood coagulation during cardiovascular surgeries. Excess consumption of protamine causes undesirable effects, including sudden reduction in blood pressure, shortness of breath and feeling hot. Therefore, researchers have recently paid special attention to quick and exact methods to measure protamine.

In this research, a simple but very sensitive sensor based on fluorescence spectroscopy was presented by using cadmium – telluride quantum dots to quickly measure protamine drug. Taking into account the fact that this sensor presents a simple and quick method for the measurement of protamine, it is able to prevent excess consumption of the drug without wasting time. Therefore, the required medical actions can be taken before it gets too late.

In addition to its high speed, this sensor minimizes environmental pollution due to the use of very low concentration of quantum dots in the production of the sensor and the lack of the need for toxic and organic solvents.

Researchers believe that the results of the research can be commercialized due to the advantages of the sensor, including quick and fast measurement, low production cost and the availability of the devices required for tracing signal (fluorescence spectroscopy device).

Results of the research have been published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol. 71, issue 1, 2015, pp. 243-248.