Researchers have developed a highly sensitive, eco-friendly, and cost-effective optical sensing platform capable of detecting cholesterol, potentially enabling early diagnosis of diseases such as atherosclerosis, venous thrombosis, cardiovascular disease, heart attack, hypertension, and cancer.

Early detection of such fatal conditions is critical, as they are often associated with abnormal biochemical markers. Hence, there is a growing need for reliable point-of-care (POC) systems that can monitor these biomarkers for personalized healthcare.

Cholesterol, an essential lipid produced by the liver, plays a key role in the production of vitamin D, bile acids, and steroid hormones. It is vital for various bodily functions, including tissue formation and nerve cell maintenance. Cholesterol circulates in the blood in two main forms: LDL (low-density lipoprotein), known as "bad" cholesterol due to its potential to accumulate in artery walls, and HDL (high-density lipoprotein), or "good" cholesterol, which helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream.

Maintaining cholesterol balance is crucial, as both elevated and deficient levels can contribute to the development of several serious conditions. Excess cholesterol, for instance, can lead to atherosclerotic plaque buildup, restricting blood flow in arteries.

An interdisciplinary team at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati—an autonomous institute under India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST)—has created a novel cholesterol sensing system using silk fibres functionalized with phosphorene quantum dots.

This innovation, developed at a laboratory scale, serves as a point-of-care (POC) device capable of detecting trace amounts of cholesterol—even levels below the standard range—making it a promising tool for regular health monitoring.

Led by Prof. Neelotpal Sen Sarma (retired), Dr. Asis Bala (Associate Professor), and Ms. Nasrin Sultana (DST INSPIRE Senior Research Fellow), the team integrated the silk fibre-based material into a cellulose nitrate membrane to build an electrical sensing platform. The resulting sensors demonstrated both high sensitivity and selectivity for cholesterol detection.

Notably, the device is environmentally friendly and does not generate electronic waste. The sensing platforms showed consistent results when tested with real-world samples including human blood serum, rat blood serum, and milk. The findings were published in the Nanoscale journal by the Royal Society of Chemistry.