Scientists develop ‘nano nose’ that can detect cancer early

A group of scientists claims to be able to detect developing tumors at a very early stage by means of a nanodevice that detects certain substances in the body. The small size means that the patient does not necessarily have to go to the hospital for the test.

It is a nanodevice inlaid with gold atoms on fibers 4 microns long, where a micron is one thousandth of a millimeter. Furthermore, use is made of antibodies, molecules that bind to a specific substance and can therefore be used for detection. In total, the device has a diameter of only 125 microns.

By looking at vibrations of electrons in the material, something called localized surface plasmon resonance, the presence of a particular substance can be shown. According to the scientists, their technology is significantly more sensitive than existing detection techniques. By detecting the presence of certain substances, such as those associated with the immune system or cancer-specific molecules, early, treatment can be started earlier, which increases the chance of success.

Another advantage of the so-called nano-nose is that the whole can be packed in a small housing. This ensures that patients do not necessarily have to come to the hospital to take the test; the doctor can also take the device to the patient. However, it is still unclear how much such a test will cost.

In the lab, the scientists, working at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, have shown that they can detect the presence of PSA in small concentrations. This substance is widely used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. If desired, the test can be modified to detect other important biomarkers, the scientists said.

The researchers will have to show that their nano-nose also works in patients; they hope to be able to raise money for this. It does not seem plausible for the time being that all types of cancer can be detected early. In most cases there are no biomarkers available that can provide a definitive answer about the presence of developing tumors at an early stage.