**Executive Summary**
Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have developed a rapid, iron-based fluorescent sensor to detect nicotine and its metabolite, cotinine. This innovation, announced on April 15, 2026, aims to provide a low-cost, biocompatible alternative to expensive and complex conventional detection methods. The technology is designed for use in public health screening, tobacco exposure monitoring, and biological research.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Technological Innovation**
* **Material:** The sensor uses iron metal-organic framework (Fe-III-MOF) nanospheres, which are microscopic, sponge-like structures synthesized via a solvothermal process.
* **Mechanism:** It operates as a "turn-on" fluorescent probe; when nicotine or cotinine molecules are trapped in the nanosphere's pores, the material glows brighter with a shift towards blue.
* **Detection Capabilities:** The sensor identifies nicotine and cotinine in aqueous media and living cells, allowing for the tracking of nicotine’s long-lasting footprint in the body.
* **Performance Features:** The nanospheres are highly selective, recyclable, and simple to operate, utilizing host-guest interactions and electron transfer to enhance signals.
**Comparison to Conventional Methods**
* **Efficiency:** Unlike conventional methods (GC-MS, HPLC, electrophoresis, and immunoassays), this sensor does not require expensive equipment, complex sample preparation, or highly skilled operators.
* **Cost and Speed:** The new method is designed to be rapid and low-cost, facilitating easier health screening.
**Safety and Biocompatibility**
* **Biological Suitability:** Due to the abundance of iron, the Fe-based MOFs exhibit low cytotoxicity and high biocompatibility.
* **Applications:** The material is suitable for non-invasive health monitoring, intracellular imaging, and medical research related to addiction and metabolism.
**Impact Analysis**
**Public Health Authorities**
**Impact**
The sensor provides a more accessible means for large-scale public health screening and smoking biomarker monitoring.
**Action Required**
Consider the integration of these low-cost sensing kits into tobacco exposure monitoring programs and public health initiatives.
**Medical and Research Professionals**
**Impact**
Researchers gain a biocompatible tool for studying nicotine metabolism and addiction, while clinicians can utilize a safer, non-invasive method for patient monitoring.
**Action Required**
Adopt the technology for biological and cellular research and explore its potential for developing biosensing platforms for other biomarkers.
**Diagnostic Laboratories**
**Impact**
Labs can move away from time-consuming and expensive detection processes toward a simpler, more efficient sensing platform.
**Action Required**
Review the technical specifications reported in the journal *Nanoscale* (DOI: 10.1039/D5NR00785B) to evaluate the implementation of this sensing technology.
Key Entities Referenced
Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali: An autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology that developed a fluorescent sensor for the rapid detection of nicotine and cotinine.
Department of Science and Technology (DST): The government department overseeing and supporting the research activities conducted by the Institute of Nano Science and Technology.
Ministry of Science & Technology: The primary ministry under which the research was conducted and announced for public health screening and tobacco exposure monitoring.
Ministry of Science & Technology
A GLOWING ALERT FOR NICOTINE
Posted On: 15 APR 2026 4:36PM by PIB Delhi
A tiny fluorescent “turn-on” sensor for rapidly detecting nicotine and its major metabolite, cotinine, in
aqueous media and living cells, could enable early and rapid detection of nicotine exposure and
biomarkers levels of cotinine its long-lasting footprint in the body.
Smoking and second-hand smoke exposure remain major global health issues. Nicotine is highly addictive
and harmful, while cotinine is a stable biomarker present in blood, saliva, and urine. Therefore, developing
a selective and biocompatible probe for nicotine/cotinine detection is important for public health
screening, monitoring smoking exposure and biological and cellular research related to nicotine
metabolism.
Conventional nicotine/cotinine detection methods (GC-MS, HPLC, electrophoresis, immunoassays) are
expensive, time-consuming, require skilled operators, and need complex sample preparation.
Scientists from Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, an autonomous institute of the
Deparyment of Science and Technology (DST) have developed a sensor using an iron metal-organic
framework (Fe-III-MOF) nanosphere a microscopic, sponge-like structure made from iron.
The scientists synthesised the Fe-MOF nanospheres through a process called solvothermal process, tested
them for safety and effectivity. This material is full of tiny pores that can trap molecules like nicotine.
Fig: Testing the nanospheres for sensing.Using intracellular imaging and confocal microscopy to follow the cellular uptake they found that when
molecules like nicotine or cotinine entered the pores, the nanosphere began to glow brighter with shift
towards blue.
The nanosphere reported in the journal Nanoscale, was also found to be highly selective recyclable. The
researches have suggested that fluorescence enhancement occurs due to host–guest interactions and
electron transfer, leading to a stronger emission signal. It is also simple to operate and works in aqueous
medium.
The abundance of iron makes the Fe-based MOFs a convenient, safe option suitable for biological
applications like non-invasive health monitoring, medical and research studies related to smoking,
addiction, and metabolism, potential future development of low-cost sensing kits and safer biological
detection due to low cytotoxicity and high biocompatibility.
It could help public health monitoring and smoking biomarker screening, rapid low-cost screening for
tobacco exposure and Fluorescent MOF-based biosensing platforms for other biomarkers.
Publication link: DOI: 10.1039/D5NR00785B
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