Blisstree » cancer-detection

Earlier Cancer Detection: Possible with Gold Nanoparticle Probes

Gloria Gamat — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 07:55:24 +0000

Scientists at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology reported that they were able to show that they can identify tumors under the skin of a living animal using tiny gold particles embedded with dyes.

Suggesting that such tools may allow allow doctors to detect and diagnose cancer earlier but less invasively.

Studded with antibody fragments called ScFv peptides that bind cancer cells, the gold particles grab onto tumors after their injection into a mouse. When illuminated with a laser beam, the tumor-bound particles send back a signal that is specific to the dye.

According to senior author Shuming Nie, PhD, a professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University:

“This is a new class of nanotechnology agents for tumor targeting and imaging.
…’been developing light-emitting semiconductor crystals called “quantum dots” into tools for cancer detection and treatment for several years.

However, colloidal gold, or gold particles in suspension, offers advantages compared with quantum dots in that the gold appears to be non-toxic and the particles produce a brighter, sharper signal.

The detail is like a fingerprint, and because of the enhancement provided by the gold surface, the signal from the dye tags is very bright, the distinct peaks in the dye signal mean several different probes could be used at the same time.”

Findings appear online Dec. 23 in the journal Nature Biotechnology and are scheduled for publication in the Jan. 1, 2008 print edition.

Find more details from Science Daily.

Post from: Blisstree

Earlier Cancer Detection: Possible with Gold Nanoparticle Probes

Cancer Commentary Links for 2007-05-26

Gloria Gamat — Sat, 26 May 2007 11:57:55 +0000

Those in North America, I hope you ar enjoying your holiday weekend.

Meanwhile, let me leave you with the following wonderful links on cancer before I sign off for the weekend:

There you go…mommy duties call.

Have a fun weekend!

Post from: Blisstree

Cancer Commentary Links for 2007-05-26

Optical Probe Can Detect Pre-Cancer Cells in Human Tissue

Gloria Gamat — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 01:48:29 +0000

Researchers at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering have developed a light-based probe which has demonstrated, in first laboratory tests on human tissue, to be able to instantly detect the earliest signs of cancer in cells lining the internal organs.

According to Adam Wax, professor of biomedical engineering:

Our initial study is very promising. We looked at tissue removed from just a handful of patients and were able to get 100 percent sensitivity. We could detect pre-cancer in the esophagus and distinguish it from normal tissue like you would find in the stomach.”

We all read and hear from experts that once cancer is detected in its earliest stage, the patient will have the higher chance of survival.

These preliminary findings on the success of the optical-probe in cancer detection, once confirmed through clinical trials, then we’ll be looking in the future for improved early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of many types of cancer.

The fiber-optic device developed by Wax and his team is the fa/LCI (frequency-domain angle-resolved low coherence interferometry)-enhanced version of an endoscope (instruments used to visualize internal organs).

Find more details from the full report.

[In photo: Biomedical engineer Adam Wax and team developed device now ready for clinical trial. (Credit: Duke Photography: Les Todd)]

Post from: Blisstree

Optical Probe Can Detect Pre-Cancer Cells in Human Tissue