IIT-Guwahati researchers develop nanomaterial to detect mercury in human cells

Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati have developed an innovative cost-effective method to identify toxic metals like mercury in human cells. The research team, have figured out a modification that ensures perovskite nanocrystals, known for their exceptional properties to detect metal ions, maintain their functionality over extended



periods, making them highly effective for practical use, a press release said.

Perovskite nanocrystals, which are about 100,000 times smaller than a human hair, interact with light in significant ways, enabling them to serve as fluorescent probes inside living cells. However, their quick degradation in water has previously limited their applications.