Researchers from MIT, NIE, and SMART have developed a fluorescent nanosensor using carbon nanotubes capable of rapidly detecting indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), a gut health biomarker linked to inflammatory bowel disease, Type 2 diabetes, and liver disease. Unlike traditional mass spectrometry methods, the sensor delivers optical readouts within minutes and shows high selectivity in complex biological fluids like blood serum. The dual-mode platform operates in both visible fluorescence and near-infrared modes, enabling potential integration into wearable devices for continuous monitoring. Validated on 125 human plasma samples, the sensor distinguished IPA levels between healthy individuals and IBD patients. Future plans include translating the technology into a point-of-care clinical tool and expanding it to detect multiple gut metabolites simultaneously using AI-driven signal analysis.
