New biosensor detects sepsis in newborns

Thomas Cañellas Rey de Vinas during his final presentation © 2023 Changemakers STUDENT PROJECTS - The Neosens project proposes a sepsis detection system for newborn babies in lowand middle-income countries, while MossStandard is developing a prototype of air purifier based on plant moss. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by an over-active immune response, generally following a bacterial infection. It's a major cause of infant death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, 2.9 million children under the age of five died of sepsis in 2017, mainly in lowand middle-income countries. However, early detection and treatment with antibiotics can considerably improve a patient's outlook. At EPFL, a group of students designed a low-cost biosensor, called Neosens, that will allow doctors to diagnose sepsis in a matter of minutes. Neosens works by detecting interleukin 6, a messenger that's secreted by newborns' immune systems in response to a host of biological conditions.