Chennai: A multi-institute research team led by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has developed a novel biosensor platform for rapid, affordable, and on-site testing of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women.

The team introduced a point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic device based on Plasmonic Fiber Optic Absorbance Biosensor (P-FAB) technology, using polymer optical fiber (POF) sensor probes to detect the Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) biomarker. The technology, capable of detecting PlGF at femtomolar levels, delivers results within 30 minutes and is suited for use in remote and resource-limited settings.

Pre-eclampsia is a life-threatening pregnancy complication with significant global maternal and neonatal mortality. Current diagnostic methods are time-intensive and infrastructure-dependent, making them largely inaccessible in underserved areas. The new P-FAB-based platform addresses these limitations with its “3S” features—sensitivity, specificity, and speed.

The research team includes experts from IIT Madras, Vellore Institute of Technology, and Sri Narayani Hospital & Research Centre. The findings were published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

According to Prof. V.V. Raghavendra Sai of IIT Madras, the new platform is simple, cost-effective, and reliable. Dr. Ratan Kumar Chaudhary noted the technology's environmental and user-friendly nature. Dr. Narayanan Madaboosi added that the platform has undergone clinical validation and is ready for scale-up and commercialization.

Researchers say the platform can also be adapted for detecting other diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's, offering broad diagnostic potential.