Up-Conversion Luminescence System for Quantitative Detection of IL-6

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key cytokine and predictor of survival in febrile illnesses, including COVID-19.
• Accurate and timely IL-6 level monitoring is critical for patient management during infectious disease outbreaks.
• A need exists for point-of-care diagnostic methods for IL-6 quantification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and develop an up-conversion luminescence system (ULS) for the quantitative detection of IL-6.
• To create a portable and accurate diagnostic tool for IL-6 at the point-of-care.
• To enable real-time monitoring and data accessibility for IL-6 levels.

Main Methods:

• Development of a ULS utilizing upconverting nanoparticles (UCNs) and integrated hardware (MCU, laser, image acquisition).
• Implementation of image processing algorithms for quantitative IL-6 detection.
• Integration of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for data transmission to mobile devices and cloud servers.

Main Results:

• Achieved a limit of detection (LOD) for IL-6 at 1 ng/mL.
• Established a quantitative detection range from 1 to 200 ng/mL.
• Demonstrated a rapid 10-minute detection time with high accuracy in a handheld system.

Conclusions:

• The developed ULS offers a promising solution for rapid, accurate, and accessible IL-6 point-of-care testing.
• The system facilitates early diagnosis of infectious diseases like COVID-19 and supports big data analysis via cloud integration.
• This technology has significant potential for improving patient outcomes and public health surveillance.