Scientists Develop Hair-Thin Optical Sensors for Simultaneous Cancer Biomarker Detection
Researchers have developed microscopic sensors printed onto optical fibers that can detect multiple cancer biomarkers simultaneously using light-based detection. The technology represents a significant advancement over single-biomarker methods and could lead to next-generation medical tools for real-time disease monitoring. The research has been published in Advanced Optical Materials and received funding for further development.
Scientists have developed hair-thin sensors that detect multiple cancer biomarkers simultaneously, potentially revolutionizing the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases like cancer. The sensors, created using ultrafast 3D micro-printing technology, are printed directly onto optical fiber tips and can measure several biomarkers at once, including temperature and chemical changes.
Researchers from Australia's Adelaide University and Germany's University of Stuttgart collaborated on the development, which works by detecting changes in the body brought on by cancer at a molecular level through light. The sensors deliver reliable disease detection in a minimally invasive way, enabling smarter healthcare, environmental monitoring and wearable tools.
"Molecules emit light when they come into contact with a by-product of cancer. The amount of light they emit depends on the concentration of the cancer cells. By inserting the sensors into tissue and measuring the amount of light emitted, we believe we can determine the presence of cancer," said the project's lead researcher from Adelaide University's Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing.
This breakthrough could lead to next-generation medical tools that track disease, guide treatment and monitor the body in real time. The sensors are able to provide reliable and clear information about the presence of disease in a minimally invasive way, opening the pathway for smarter tools in healthcare.
The research represents a significant development that builds upon existing methods that are only able to measure one biomarker at a time. "When you can only measure one biomarker at a time, it's hard to determine if the cause of the change is cancer or another issue," said the lead researcher. "This is why our method is so revolutionary, as it enables us to provide precise information immediately to medical professionals."
The research has been published in the journal Advanced Optical Materials and will benefit from a recent $1.32 million Australian Research Council Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities grant, which will help to establish a world-class, high-precision micro and nano printing facility at Adelaide University. Having access to the latest laser printing technology will allow researchers to continue their work and hopefully detect even more biomarkers, such as changes to pH or oxidation-reduction.
In the future, researchers would like to collaborate with hospitals to refine the technology, which they believe could be ready for use within the next decade. The team will be able to create prototypes faster, build more complex structures and apply what they learn to the broader biomedical field.