IIT-BHU Secures Patent for Electrochemical Sensor for Drug Detection in Pharmaceuticals & Food

It leverages metallic dendrites to facilitate high-precision drug quantification, with broad application potential in clinical and analytical domains.

A team from the School of Biochemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), BHU, has developed a 3D trimetallic nanodendrite-based electrochemical sensing device designed to detect trace amounts of drugs in pharmaceutical formulations and food samples.

The innovation has earned a patent and has been presented at leading national and international scientific forums. Prof Pranjal Chandra and researchers Rohini Kumari and Daphika S Dkhar developed the patented platform.

It leverages metallic dendrites to facilitate high-precision drug quantification, with broad application potential in clinical and analytical domains.

Addressing Drug Residue & Antimicrobial Resistance

Highlighting the relevance of the device, Prof Chandra explained that the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in both human medicine and livestock result in residual drugs entering the food chain and water systems. This contributes to rising antimicrobial resistance, which remains a significant global concern.

He added that existing drug detection systems are often complex, time-consuming, and involve multi-step procedures.

The team’s objective was to create a user-friendly platform that reduces preparation time, improves detection limits, and simplifies the process.

According to the researchers, the sensor offers a quick response time and requires only a single-step modification process. This design choice allows for streamlined analysis and greater practical applicability, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Validated across multiple sample types—including pharmaceutical drugs and food matrices—the sensor demonstrated strong selectivity and detection performance.

It can be used to identify adulteration or excessive drug residues, which is critical for public safety and regulatory compliance.

Towards Multi-Drug Analysis & Broader Use

Prof Chandra noted that the team is working on converting the sensor into a multiplexer module capable of simultaneously analyzing multiple drugs.

This could further expand its utility in pharmacological screening and routine testing across healthcare, food safety, and pharmaceutical sectors.

The Director of IIT-BHU, Prof Amit Patra, congratulated the research team for securing the patent and acknowledged the innovation as part of India’s broader mission to support Indigenous technological development under flagship national programs.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News.