New nanoparticle self-assembly helps doctors diagnose cancer earlier

New nanoparticle self-assembly helps doctors diagnose cancer earlier -

Scientists have developed a new self-assembling nanoparticle that targets tumors to help doctors diagnose cancer earlier.

new nanoparticle developed by researchers from Imperial College London, enhances the effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by specifically searching for receptors found in cancer cells .

The nanoparticle is coated with a particular protein that resembles specific signals emitted by the tumors, and when it detects a tumor begins to interact with cancer cells. This interaction strips off the coat proteins, which causes the nanoparticles self-assemble into a much larger particle so that it is visible on the scan.

A new study published in the journal Angewandte Chemie used cancer cells and mouse models to compare the effects of the self-assembling nanoparticle MRI against the agents imaging commonly used and found that the nanoparticle produced a stronger signal and creates a sharper image MRI of the tumor.

scientists say the nanoparticle increases the sensitivity of MRI and ultimately improve a physician's ability to detect cancer cells at earlier stages of development.

Professor Nicholas Long Department of Chemistry at Imperial College London said the results show real promise to improve cancer diagnosis. "By improving the sensitivity of MRI, our goal is to help doctors spot something that might be cancerous much faster. This would allow patients to receive effective treatment earlier, which should improve the survival rate of cancer. "

" MRI scanners are found in almost all hospitals up and down the country and they are vital machines used daily to analyze the patient's body and get to the bottom of what could go wrong. But we are aware that some doctors feel that while MRI scanners are effective to detect large tumors, they are perhaps not as good at detecting smaller tumors in the early stages, "added the long teacher.

newly designed nanoparticle provides a tool for improving the sensitivity of MRI, and scientists are currently working to strengthen its effectiveness Professor Long said. "We want to improve the design to make it even easier for doctors identify tumor and for surgeons to operate on it then we'll try to add an additional optical signal so that the nanoparticle brightened. with a luminescent probe once it had found its target, in combination with the best MRI signal that will be even easier to identify tumors. "

Before testing and to inject nontoxic nanoparticle into mice, scientists had to ensure that it would not become so great when self-assembled it would cause damage. They injected . the nanoparticle in saline inside a Petri dish and follow its evolution during a four-hour period the nanoparticle from 100 to 800 nanometers - yet small enough not to cause prejudice

scientists are now improving the nanoparticle and hope to test their design in a human trial in the next three to five years [

Dr Juan Gallo Department of surgery and cancer at Imperial College London said: "We seek to refine the size of the final nanoparticle so it is even smaller, but gives a further improved MRI image if it is too low, the body. will simply secrete before imaging, but too big and it could be harmful to the body. get it is just really important before proceeding to human trials. "