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Picture Courtesy:  TIMES  OF INDIA 

Context:

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru have created a glowing paper sensor to detect liver cancer.

How does this Sensor work?

The sensor works by using a rare earth metal called terbium, which naturally glows green under ultraviolet (UV) light when embedded in a special gel. To create the sensor, the team puts this glowing gel onto small paper discs.

What specific substance does this sensor detect?

The sensor detects an enzyme called "β-glucuronidase." This enzyme is found naturally in living organisms and plays normal biological roles. However, high levels of β-glucuronidase are strongly linked to several types of cancer, including liver cancer, as well as colon, breast, and kidney cancers. High levels also relate to infections and conditions like jaundice or drug toxicity. So, detecting this enzyme helps identify these health issues.

How is the new sensor better than older detection methods?

Reduced Noise => Traditional detection methods struggle with "background noise," making it hard to get a clear signal. Terbium is unique because it glows for a longer time, which helps the sensor filter out this noise and give a much clearer, stronger signal.

High Sensitivity => The sensor can detect very low levels of the enzyme, down to 185 nanograms per milliliter. This level is well below what is seen in serious liver diseases, meaning it can potentially detect problems very early.

Source: 

TIMES OF INDIA