Twice as smart iron detection

Research paper presents iron detection method combining smart materials with smart phone technology.

A group of scientists from the University of Burgos (Burgos, Spain) have recently published work on a new method to detect iron levels in blood. The method allows detection within 15 minutes; and should allow a fast and inexpensive method, avoiding standard sample preparation and laboratory techniques.

The technique uses polymerized 8-hydroxyquinoline, an organic iron chelator. This material is cut into small disks, onto which the sample is applied. The following smart material changes color depending on the amount of iron present, and by comparing photographs of disks with sample versus standards, the level of iron can be determined using principal component analysis.

The team tested their technique on blood, water and wine samples, and successfully quantified the iron levels. In addition, they demonstrated that photographs taken on a standard smart phone would contain enough color information. Thus the researchers hope that their new technique will offer an inexpensive technique, which will not require specialized personnel or equipment.

Source: Vallejos S, Muñoz A, Ibeas S, Serna F, García FC, Garcia JM. Solid sensory polymer substrates for the quantification of iron in blood, wine and water by a scalable RGB technique. J. Mater. Chem. A Mater. Energy Sustain. DOI: 10.1039/C3TA12703F (Epub ahead of print) (2013).