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Nanosensor in the human body will "signal" the onset of disease
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Diagnostics is an important point in medicine, because the effectiveness of treatment largely depends on the stage at which treatment is started. Diagnostic methods are given special attention by scientists, but the main problem has always been that in some cases the disease is asymptomatic at the initial stages, and by the time the first signs of the disease appear, treatment is complicated by the irreversible processes that have begun.
Even cancers are easier to treat in the early stages. For example, pancreatic cancer is most often detected in the late stages, when metastases have already affected other organs or the lymphatic system. The disease does not cause any symptoms at the beginning of its development, which is why this form of cancer has an extremely low survival rate.
In this regard, scientists decided to develop a completely new method for diagnosing any disease, including cancerous tumors of any localization at the very beginning of their development.
The technology consists of nanosensors that will be implanted into the human body and transmit information about the state of all organs and systems to a computer.
Thomas Webster, one of the developers of the innovative diagnostic method, noted that he and his colleagues are trying to create sensors that resemble the body's natural cells. In the future, such nano-sensors will be implanted into immune cells and circulate throughout the body. If any pathology begins to develop in the body, the nanosensors will signal the problem, in addition, microorganisms that get on the implant (bacteria, viruses, fungi) will help determine the nature of the disease and its stage. This method will allow doctors to prescribe effective treatment without even having to examine the patient or use other diagnostic tools (ultrasound, X-ray, biopsy, etc.).
Now experts are testing the technology by implanting nano-sensors into titanium parts of catheters and thighs.
Experts reported that nanosensors are made of carbon tubes and do not pose a danger to human health. Such sensors will send signals to an external device, and the doctor will be able to receive complete information about the patient's health and promptly respond to this or that pathology.
Molecular diagnostics and nanoparticles will help to identify almost any disease at the very beginning of its development; this technology has great prospects in the future.
Scientists primarily hope that this method will help identify cancer at the very beginning of its development, when the tumor has not yet had time to affect the entire organ and spread to others.
Nanotechnology is currently receiving special attention from scientists, for example, work is currently underway to stimulate the growth of nerve cells using nanoparticles. As experts note, this will help patients with spinal cord or brain damage recover. Nanocells in the form of a special gel-like substance fill the resulting void between nerve cells and stimulate their growth (today, a similar method is being tested on laboratory animals).