Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created a nanoparticle diagnostic tool that can detect cancer cells in the urine, a breakthrough for diagnosing cancer.
The development of a cancer detection tool that can be used as a simple urine test marks a breakthrough in cancer diagnosis. Oncologists typically use imaging techniques such as CT scans, mammograms, and colonoscopy to detect the disease.
According to researchers, the nanoparticle tool, approved for use in humans, could be included in routine urine tests to check for cancer cell traces.
The tool will work in combination with a radioactive compound called "copper-64" that is usually swallowed, inhaled or injected and that detects cancer cells and tracks the path to their source.
The world-famous Institute of Science and Technology said nanoparticles could in principle be used to detect cancer anywhere in the body - including tumors that have spread from their primary location, a process known as metastasis.
"This is a really broad sensor that aims to respond to primary tumors and their metastases. It can trigger a urinary signal and also allow us to imagine where the tumors are. ” - said the researchers.
Because of their size, nanoparticles behave differently from larger materials in terms of how they absorb energy and react with chemicals. This means that they have often played a crucial role in scientific discoveries that could not have been made without their use.
Burimet: Nature Materials, Euronews
