The Technology Development Board of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has provided financial assistance to Cuttack-based startup BabyCue for a project to develop a disposable paper analytical device for rapid detection of childhood diarrhoea.
The project focuses on commercialising indigenous rapid diagnostic kits, which have been designed to detect the difference between bacterial and non-bacterial diarrhoea in children in a timely manner.
The proposed product, DyCue Diagnostic Kit is an important indigenous innovation combining biotechnology and materials science to tackle the widespread problem of diarrhoea in the country. The kit is designed as a quick, non-harmless and cost-effective diagnostic tool that can also be used in rural health centres and temporary diagnostic centres.
The device is based on lateral flow assay (LFA) technology, which rapidly identifies disease using disease-specific fecal biomarkers. The system uses gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric detection, allowing results to be visually understood without the need for specialised laboratory equipment. The use of proprietary biomarkers and specially designed reagents ensures high sensitivity and specificity, making it possible to make a reliable distinction between bacterial and non-bacterial infections. Proprietary biomarkers are patented, biological indicators (molecules, genes, or imaging characteristics) that are made by specialty pharmaceutical, diagnostic, or biotech companies to detect diseases, predict treatment efficacy, or drug efficacy.
The technology has been developed in collaboration with National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad and has been clinically validated at ESIC Hospital, Hyderabad.
Technology Development Board will help the company to accelerate product development, increase manufacturing capacity and deploy this diagnostic solution widely for the benefit of healthcare providers and patients.
