Chemical Sciences and Catalysis
Title : | Gel Film-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Droplets for the Real-Time Detection and Rapid Clearance of Bacterial Endotoxin |
Area of research : | Chemical Sciences and Catalysis |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Abhijit Dan, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University Of Technology, West Bengal |
Timeline Start Year : | 2022 |
Timeline End Year : | 2025 |
Contact info : | abhijit@pu.ac.in |
Equipments : | "Vacucm Pump
Refrigerated Circulator
Optical Microscope" |
Details
Executive Summary : | Endotoxins, a key component of Gram-negative bacteria's outer cell membrane, are linked to endotoximia, a health condition that can lead to septic shock and other health issues. They are an indicator of bacterial contamination and can trigger changes in the internal ordering of liquid crystal (LC) droplets. Detection and quantification of endotoxins are crucial in respiratory health-related contexts. Current methods for quantitation of endotoxins are not optimal due to issues such as lack of stability of bare LC droplets, difficulty in imaging droplets due to their mobility, and conformational changes resulting from sedimentation/adsorption onto solid surfaces. This proposal proposes a new strategy to obtain rigid LC droplets using a polymeric hydrogel matrix. This involves emulsifying LC in Milli-Q water and incorporating the droplets in a hydrogel matrix. The gel film casting eliminates coalescence and sedimentation, providing remarkable stability to the LC droplets. The specific binding of LPS with polymer chains via electrostatic interaction allows for the removal of bacterial endotoxin from aqueous solution. The main focus is to explore the potential of this approach towards droplet stability and characterize the impact of the gel-network as a continuous phase on the internal ordering of LC droplets, including their ability to respond to bacterial endotoxin. The LC-dispersed gel film can be recycled and reused for further detection and separation of endotoxin. This approach provides a unique toolbox and cost-effective method for sensitive detection and efficient clearance of LPS in complex biological fluids. |
Total Budget (INR): | 25,41,000 |
Organizations involved