DETECTION OF METHOTREXATE

Why in News?                                                                                                        

A new highly fluorescent material with exceptional optical properties has been developed using phosphorene, cystine, and gold (Ph-Cys-Au) which can be used as a visual sensing platform for detecting anti-cancer drug MTX overdosage of which has toxic effect on lungs, stomach, and heart.

What is Methotrexate?

• Methotrexate (MTX) is a widely used anti-cancer drug.
• The MTX value of more than 10 µM in blood plasma is hazardous if it remains in the system for more than 10 hours, resulting in poisoning effects on the lungs, ulcers of the stomach, and heart stroke.
• MTX is highly expensive, and the detection of unwanted overdoses using traditional procedures is time-consuming and involves complex instrumentation.
• Considering all these issues, the development of fast and sensitive detection using simple methodologies is required.

What is new highly fluorescent material for detection of MTX?

• This highly fluorescent material has been developed using phosphorene, cystine, and gold (Ph-Cys-Au).
• It has exceptional optical properties and thus can be used as a visual sensing platform for detecting the anti-cancer drug MTX over dosage.