CANBERRA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Scientists have developed hair-thin sensors that detect multiple cancer biomarkers simultaneously, potentially revolutionizing the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases like cancer.
Researchers from Australia and Germany worked together to develop the tiny sensors using ultrafast 3D micro-printing technology, said a statement from Australia's Adelaide University on Monday.
The sensors target biomarkers and are printed onto optical fiber tips to measure several biomarkers simultaneously, including temperature and chemical changes, according to the study published in the journal Advanced Optical Materials.
"This breakthrough could lead to next-generation medical tools that track disease, guide treatment and monitor the body in real time," said Associate Professor Shahraam Afshar, the project's lead researcher from Adelaide University's Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing.
The sensors work by detecting changes in the body brought on by cancer at a molecular level through light, delivering reliable disease detection in a minimally invasive way, enabling smarter healthcare, environmental monitoring and wearable tools, according to the study in collaboration with the University of Stuttgart in Germany.
"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," Afshar said. ■
