What happens to microplastics once they enter the human bloodstream? This question has led Suramrit Singh Kohli, a Grade 12 student at Jayshree Periwal International School, to develop NanoClear, a research project exploring whether magnetic nanoparticles could capture microplastics from blood. The project has received recognition at two science competitions.
Kohli’s interest in the project stems from his engagement with robotics, which began in 2018, and his interest in applying engineering to real-world challenges. With NanoClear, he has explored whether magnetic nanoparticles can bind to plastic particles, allowing them to be separated using an external magnetic field.
The project began to take shape during Brown University’s Summer@Brown programme under Dr Thomas Webster. In August 2025, Kohli continued his research at ReeLABs Research Centre in Mumbai under Dr Abhijit Bhopadikar, working with human blood samples for approximately 20 hours a week.
“Microplastics are a problem that we are still learning to understand, and I wanted to explore whether engineering could offer a way to address what happens once these particles enter the bloodstream. NanoClear is still at the research stage, but working on it has shown me that building a possible solution also means understanding its limitations and working out what to solve next,” said Kohli.
The research involved nanoparticles measuring approximately 91 nanometres, with a positively charged inner coating designed to attract negatively charged plastic particles. Building on this principle, Kohli developed an external magnetic separation system in which blood is intended to mix with the nanoparticles and pass through a magnet-lined coil. The system is designed to capture the resulting clusters before the blood returns to the circuit.
Early laboratory investigations provided preliminary evidence of particle binding. Electron microscope images captured at Brown University by Dr Webster showed nanoparticles surrounding a fragment of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In a separate experiment using human blood spiked with microplastics, a turbidity sensor recorded a reduction in the sample’s cloudiness reading from 249.3 to zero after one pass through the system.
At the IRIS National Fair in January 2026, NanoClear won Gold and the Yale Science and Engineering Association’s Award for Most Outstanding Exhibit in STEM, one of three such awards among approximately 120 finalists. The Gold award secured the project a place among roughly 20 projects representing India at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. At ISEF, NanoClear received a Special Award from Zydus carrying a prize of US$1,250.
The research has also progressed into academic publication and intellectual property development. In August 2026, Springer Nature published Kohli’s paper, presented at TIBS 2026, in its Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems (LNNS) series. The project also has an Indian design patent, a provisional patent filing and an ongoing United States patent filing.
Kohli is also the founder of 7 STEM Labs, an initiative focused on expanding access to practical STEM learning, mentorship and robotics education for students in underserved communities. He plans to continue developing his research interests at university.
NanoClear remains at the research stage. The prototype has not been tested on patients or approved for medical use, and further work is needed to assess toxicity, blood compatibility and performance at a larger scale. Proposed next steps include toxicity studies, scaling the system to process five litres of blood and animal trials, subject to the necessary ethical approvals. Kohli’s next phase of research at university will focus on addressing the remaining questions and developing the approach from a laboratory-based concept into a practical, real-world solution.