Progress in cancer cell detection techniques

Cancer researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the United States (UCLA) have reported a major advance in the detection of cancer cells as they spread through the body. They argue that this advance can apply nanotechnology to detect cancer and determine its rate of spread.

The Jonsson Cancer Center of the university said it used atomic force microscopy to stab a pointed device into the wall of the living cell, thus determining how flexible the cell wall is.

Because cancer cells are forced to contract to fit in tight places as they move through the body, these diseased cells are more flexible than healthy cells. By using nanoscale microscopes and devices that support the use of sharp tip devices, scientists have a new tool to determine if the sample cell is a cancer cell.

(Artwork: Xinhuanet)

UCLA researcher Jianyu Rao said that high-tech optical experiments have replaced long-term techniques including tissue sampling, staining and observation with obsolete optical microscopes to find cells. Cancer-causing anomalies.

'Usually cancer cells have larger nuclei and some difficult to detect features. However, normal cells in the fluid in the body cavities look almost identical to cancer cells when viewed with an optical microscope. '

Chemistry professor James Gimzewski said that the nanotechnology application process is to use a small, pointed tweezers to stab into the cell wall to determine its softness, a sign that it is Cancer cells are developing.

Scientists must use atomic force microscopy to perform this ingenious experiment.

James GImzewski said: 'We have to determine the softness of the cell without breaking it. Or it is like having to use a hammer to know that potatoes are soft or hard. ' He explained: 'Looking at the two tomatoes at the supermarket, they are all red. A fruit is broken but looks normal. You pick up two tomatoes and touch them. It's easy to find out which fruits are broken. We do the same thing. '