Editorial

The latest application of nanotechnology is in the field of Medicine. To enable half-a-dozen departments in a hospital to study condition of the patient, more than half a dozen times blood has to be drawn from the patient. If one can just take a drop of blood and draw the conclusions, it is a tremendous advance.

Researchers in Bombay IIT's centre for excellence in Nano Electronics, have come out with a table top device which uses only a drop of blood of the patient. This kit can show whether a patient has a problem and depending on the condition of the heart the colour of the drop of blood changes. This is assumed to be useful even before ECG can predict the condition of the heart.

This is definitely a good device by which one can test himself and the moment there is a tendency for a problem, the patient can be rushed to the hospital.

Intact in every instrument from chromatograph, ECG, atomic or molecular spectroscopy, X-ray, y-ray to mass-spectroscopy, the result obtained consists of spectrum. The spectrum has a number of lines which have to be identified. Their relative intensities and width are important factors. By studying the various parameters quantitatively one obtains a lot of information. Many erroneous interpretations can be avoided by quantitative research.

There are automatic spectrometers. One can use them in factories where the parameters of the sample are not of critical importance. Greater the speed, less the accuracy in general. First let us give importance to accuracy of analysis. Then they can be speeded up. Automatic analysis are not for research.

Well, our students can think of this when after a medical degree, they go for specialisation in any field.