Cancer-Detecting Nanochip Has Big

Potential
Institute of Photonic Sciences (Spain) researchers announced
the successful development of a "lab-on-a-chip" platform
capable of detecting protein cancer markers in the blood
using the very latest advances in plasmonics, nano-
fabrication, microfuids and surface chemistry !lthough very
compact (only a fe" s#uare centimeters), the lab-on-a-chip
hosts various sensing sites distributed across a net"ork of
fuidic micro-channels that enables it to conduct multiple
analyses $old nano-particles lie on the surface of the chip
and are chemically programed "ith an antibody receptor in
such a "ay that they are capable of speci%cally attracting
the protein markers circulating in blood &hen a drop of
blood is in'ected into the chip, it circulates through the
micro-channels and if cancer markers are present in the
blood, they "ill stick to the nano-particles located on the
micro-channels as they pass by, setting o( changes in "hat
is kno"n as the "plasmonic resonance" )he device monitors
these changes, the magnitude of "hich are directly related
to the concentration*number of markers in the patient blood
thus providing a direct assessment of the risk for the patient
to develop a cancer +omain ,uidant, pro'ect coordinator,
comments that- "the most fascinating %nding is that "e are
capable of detecting e.tremely lo" concentrations of this
protein in a matter of minutes, making this device an ultra-
high sensitivity, state-of-the-art, po"erful instrument that
"ill bene%t early detection and treatment monitoring of
cancer"
One small chip -- one giant leap forward for early
cancer detection
!n ultra-sensitive nano-chip capable of detecting cancer at
early stages
)oday, the ma'ority of cancers are detected on the
macroscopic level, "hen the tumor is already composed of
millions of cancer cells and the disease is starting to
advance into a more mature phase /ut "hat if "e could
diagnose cancer before it took hold- "hile it "as still only
a(ecting a fe" locali0ed cells1 It "ould be like putting a %re
out "hile it "as still 'ust a fe" sparks versus after having
already caught on and spread to many areas of the house
!n international team of researchers, led by I234- Institute
of Photonic Sciences in 2astelldefels, announce the
successful development of a "lab-on-a-chip" platform
capable of detecting protein cancer markers in the blood
using the very latest advances in plasmonics, nano-
fabrication, microfuids and surface chemistry )he device is
able to detect very lo" concentrations of protein cancer
markers in blood, enabling diagnoses of the disease in its
earliest stages )he detection of cancer in its very early
stages is seen as key to the successful diagnosis and
treatment of this disease
)his cancer-tracking nano-device sho"s great promise as a
tool for future cancer treatments, not only because of its
reliability, sensitivity and potential lo" cost, but also
because of its easy carry-on portable properties, "hich is
foreseen to facilitate e(ective diagnosis and suitable
treatment procedures in remote places "ith di5cult access
to hospitals or medical clinics
64& 748S I) &4+9- !lthough very compact (only a fe"
s#uare centimeters), the lab-on-a-chip hosts various sensing
sites distributed across a net"ork of fuidic micro-channels
that enables it to conduct multiple analyses $old nano-
particles lie on the surface of the chip and are chemically
programed "ith an antibody receptor in such a "ay that they
are capable of speci%cally attracting the protein markers
circulating in blood &hen a drop of blood is in'ected into the
chip, it circulates through the micro-channels and if cancer
markers are present in the blood, they "ill stick to the nano-
particles located on the micro-channels as they pass by,
setting o( changes in "hat is kno"n as the "plasmonic
resonance" )he device monitors these changes, the
magnitude of "hich are directly related to the
concentration*number of markers in the patient blood thus
providing a direct assessment of the risk for the patient to
develop a cancer
I2+8! Professor at I234 +omain ,uidant, coordinator of the
pro'ect comments, "the most fascinating %nding is that "e
are capable of detecting e.tremely lo" concentrations of this
protein in a matter of minutes, making this device an ultra-
high sensitivity, state-of-the-art, po"erful instrument that
"ill bene%t early detection and treatment monitoring of
cancer" In :;;<, Prof ,uidant=s research group at I234, in
collaboration "ith several groups of oncologists, 'oined the
"orld"ide e(ort devoted to the ultra-sensitive detection of
protein markers located on the surface of cancer cells and in
peripheral blood, "hich had been determined to be a clear
indicator of the development of cancer In :;>;, they
successfully obtained funding for the pro'ect called SP8742
(Surface Plasmon 8arly 7etection of 2irculating 6eat Shock
Proteins and )umor 2ells) under the ?th 3rame"ork Program
(3P?) of the 8uropean 2ommission )he e(ort "as also
boosted by generous philanthropic support from 2elle.
3oundation /arcelona )oday=s announcement is an
important outcome of this pro'ect
@@@
!bout this study
)his "ork has been supported by 2elle. 3oundation
/arcelona and by the SP8742 pro'ect, funded by the
Seventh 3rame"ork Program (3P?) of the 8uropean
2ommission
+eference- Srd'an S !cimovic , Aaria !le'andra 4rtega ,
Banesa San0 , Cohann /erthelot , Cose Duis $arcia-2ordero ,
Can +enger , Sebastian C Aaerkl , Aark Patrick 9reu0er , and
+omain ,uidant, DSP+ 2hip for Parallel, +apid and Sensitive
7etection of 2ancer Aarkers in Serum, Eano Detters, 74I-
>;>;:>*nlF;;F?Gn
!bout I234
I234-)he Institute of Photonic Sciences "as created in :;;:
by the government of 2atalonia and the )echnical Hniversity
of 2atalonia as a center of research e.cellence devoted to
the science and technologies of light "ith a triple mission- to
conduct frontier research, train the ne.t generation of
scientists, and provide kno"ledge and technology transfer
)oday, it is one of the top research centres "orld"ide in its
category as measured by the Aapping Scienti%c 8.cellence
ranking
+esearch at I234 targets the forefront of science and
technology based on light "ith programs directed at
applications in 6ealth, +ene"able 8nergies, Information
)echnologies, Security and Industrial processes, among
others )he institute hosts I;; professionals based in a
dedicated building situated in the Aediterranean )echnology
Park in the metropolitan area of /arcelona
+esearchers at I234 publish in the most prestigious 'ournals
and collaborate "ith a "ide range of companies around the
"orld )he institute runs a vigorous technology transfer
program in "hich more than I; national and international
industries participate It has also created F spin-o(
companies to date )he institute is generously supported by
2elle. 3oundation /arcelona, "hich supports several frontier
research pro'ects and programs focused on young talented
researchers
Dink to the Paper-
http-**pubsacsorg*doi*abs*>;>;:>*nlF;;F?Gn
Dink to the research group led by Prof +omain ,uidant-
http-**"""icfoeu*research*groupJdetailsphp1idK:?