A revolutionary technology for the diagnosis of cancer cells based on nanoparticles
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Scientists from the US (University of California, Santa Barbara) have introduced a revolutionary technology that makes it possible to distinguish cancer cells from the prostate gland from healthy cells.
Despite the fact that before the application of this technology in practical medicine will take several years, the authors speak with confidence about its effectiveness and use as a development of micro devices for determining metastases of prostate cancer.
"Studies that have studied the relationship between the number of cancer cells in the blood and the prognosis of the disease have already been carried out," says Project Manager Alessia Pallaoro. "The outcome of the disease is directly proportional to the number of cancer cells in the blood. Timely detection of cancer cells in the blood is very important for diagnosis and treatment. "
Primary cancer of the prostate does not kill patients. This is done by distant metastases. Therefore, it is important for scientists to know what mechanisms allow cancer cells to detach from the primary tumor. Timely detection and removal of these cells would have made it possible to stop metastasis.
The presented technology makes it possible to distinguish cancer cells from normal ones by using laser spectroscopy (surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy) and silver nanoparticles. "The absorption of laser light by silver nanoparticles leads to the emission of a diverse set of colors," explains colleague Gary Braun. "It's not fluorescence. It has more opportunities. "
"The revolutionary nature of our method is to use more markers to identify and investigate specific cancer cells that are different from other cancer cells," says Alessia Pallaoro. "These unique cells must be so strong that it allows them to break away from the primary tumor and metastasize to other areas of the body. This process occurs as a result of specific changes that are manifested, including, and on the surface of cancer cells. Our goal is to discover these changes. "
Now scientists are working on creating a diagnostic micro device based on nanoparticles, the spectrum of which can be constantly expanded.
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