Khaberni - In a scientific development that could change the way cancer is diagnosed, researchers have succeeded in developing an ultra-sensitive optical sensor capable of detecting extremely small amounts of cancer-related biomarkers in the blood, even before tumors appear in imaging scans.
The new technology, whose results were published in the scientific journal Optica, combines "CRISPR technology" for gene editing, DNA-made nanostructures, and tiny quantum particles, to produce a clear optical signal even when there are very few molecules present.
In the early stages of cancer, biomarkers - such as pieces of DNA or ribonucleic acid (RNA) - are present at extremely low concentrations in the blood. Current tests often require complex "chemical amplification" processes to enhance the signal, adding time, cost, and reducing accuracy.
The new system relies on an optical phenomenon known as "second harmonic generation," where the incident light is converted to light of a different wavelength, allowing for very precise detection of changes with extremely low background noise.
The researchers built nanostructures in the form of a tiny pyramidal DNA, which serves as an accurate platform for mounting quantum particles on the surface of a semiconductor material. When the targeted biomarker is present, the "CRISPR-Cas" system intervenes to recognize it and cut the DNA strands that fix the particles, leading to a clear change in the optical signal that can be accurately measured.
By testing the technology on a biomarker associated with lung cancer known as “miR-21,” the team was able to detect it in real blood serum samples of patients, even at very low levels, indicating the possibility of its use in early blood tests.
Towards a portable test?
The researchers believe that this platform is programmable, meaning it can be adapted to detect other biomarkers, whether for neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, or for viral and bacterial infections.
The next step, according to the team, is to miniaturize the optical system to become a portable device that can be used in clinics or even in remote areas, which could open the door for routine blood tests to monitor cancer before it becomes visible on CT scans.
Although the technology is still in its research stages, its ability to capture "the faintest signals" from a single drop of blood places it among the most promising early diagnostic tools, in the race to detect cancer before it has a chance to spread.
