Nanosensors for better detection of cancer mutations
Published: Thursday, Oct 17th 2024, 11:20
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Scientists at the University of Freiburg have developed nanosensors that enable more cost-effective detection of mutations in cellular DNA. This also makes it possible to detect cancer mutations more quickly.
The alteration of DNA in the cells is an essential step in the development and progression of cancer. These mutations can be detected in the blood and tissue using a liquid biopsy.
Information can also be provided on the type of cancer, the degree of malignancy and, above all, the sensitivity or resistance to certain drugs, according to a press release issued by the University of Fribourg on Thursday. As these analyses require special equipment and specialist personnel, they are expensive and time-consuming.
Quick and cheap solution
To solve this problem, Samet Kocabey, a researcher in Professor Curzio Rüegg's team, has developed nanosensors that can detect mutations in the genetic code even at very low concentrations.
"These sensors then generate a fluorescent signal that can be easily processed by a flow cytometer, a device found in most hospitals and diagnostic laboratories," Kocabey was quoted as saying in the press release. The analysis can be performed within one day - compared to three to five days with current methods - and at a lower cost.
These results, published in the journal "Biosensors and Bioelectronics", simplify the detection of mutated DNA/RNA, making it accessible to more laboratories. In addition, the new sensors can also be used to detect non-mutated RNA, which extends their application to molecular biomedical research, according to the report.
Ultimately, they could pave the way for the development of quick, simple and cost-effective clinical tests for the detection of cancer mutations in tumor tissue and blood samples in a larger number of hospitals and laboratories. According to the University of Freiburg, this discovery is patented.
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