Sensor chip detects cancer

US scientists have successfully built a sound sensor device capable of recognizing the biomarkers of cancer. This invention contributes to improving the effectiveness of detecting and diagnosing many different cancers.

In order to meet the growing demand for sensors for research and clinical practice, experts from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), USA, invented a microelectronic circuit ( chip), named ACuRay (ACoustic micro-arRay), capable of detecting many different types of molecules.

According to the research team, ACuRay is a tool to detect biomarkers of cancer, ie molecular markers that indicate the presence of cancerous masses. This device consists of many electrodes that are implanted in the surface of a thin zinc oxide film, which helps the device generate impulses when an electrical current passes.

With high sensitivity, ACuRay can become a popular, effective and inexpensive tool for detecting and diagnosing cancer.(Photo: AACR)

Georgia Tech's team coated the surface of the zinc oxide with antibodies specific to mesothelin - a protein that binds to the cell surface in mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and adenocarcinoma. Prostate and other cancers.

When applying ACuRay's surface to the patient's body, it will detect the presence - albeit at an extremely low concentration - of mesothelin, a biomarker that is involved in many cancers.

When the mesothelin binds to an antibody, the extra mass changes the frequency of sound waves traveling between the electrodes on the surface of ACuRay, and the device will 'hear' the change in the soundstage created. By a very small number of mesothelin nanoparticles are attached to antibodies on the surface of the chip.

Engineer Anthony Dickherber, a member of the research team, said: 'This sensor is designed similarly to a computer chip and can be massively produced by the famous and inexpensive microelectronics technique. The current'.

According to him, ACuRay has the potential to detect biomarkers even at levels lower than those noted in this study.

He said excitedly: 'We hope one day doctors can use our sensor system as a means of testing - such as blood tests, to detect and monitor. signs of cancer '.

According to doctor - doctoral student Christopher Corso, research team member, ACuRay will bring practical benefits in health care, because it helps doctors detect signs of cancer before apply more expensive and invasive diagnostic techniques.

Georgia Tech's Dr. William D. Hunt, who led the study, said: 'ACuRay is really a solution for detecting complex biomarkers. With this tiny device - the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen, we can discover many different biomarkers for a single disease. '

He stressed: 'With high sensitivity, ACuRay sensor chips can become a popular, effective and inexpensive technology for researchers, doctors and clinical laboratory experts'.

This study was published at the second International Conference entitled 'Molecular diagnosis in the development of anti-cancer therapies' , recently held by the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, state. Georgia.

Quang Thinh