A sensor developed at A*STAR can detect bladder cancer cells and track tumor progression
Microelectronic engineers in Singapore have developed and tested sensor technology that can detect and measure a chemical signature of bladder cancer. The light-based sensor could eventually be used for the early diagnosis and subsequent tracking of the progression and treatment of many different tumors, according to Yong Shin at the A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics, who led the research. After further testing of the technology, Shin and co-workers are planning to develop a lab-on-a-chip device incorporating the sensor that can process fluid samples within about five minutes.
Genes that suppress tumors can be deactivated by the attachment of a methyl group to a specific DNA sequence — cytosine next to guanine — in their promoter region. The methyl group prevents the gene from being used as a template for protein synthesis and reduces the capacity of the cell to control its own proliferation.
Several well-established chemical methods exist for detecting such DNA methylation, but they are expensive, time-consuming and dependent on laboratory expertise. Shin and co-workers therefore investigated direct physical methods as an alternative. They focused particularly on silicon micro-ring resonators that amplify light at specific resonant frequencies. The resonators developed by the researchers are very sensitive detectors of a shift in light frequency, including the shift that occurs when a methyl group is attached or detached to DNA.
Shin and co-workers tested the capacity of silicon micro-ring resonators to discriminate between methylated and unmethylated forms of genes known to trigger cancer in bladder cells. They fashioned separate DNA probes to capture one or other form when they passed a solution of the genes, amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, over a silicon chip to which the probes were attached. The resonators clearly distinguished between the forms within five minutes. Moreover, the method allowed the team to quantify the density of methylation, which means the technique should be able to track changes in patterns of methylation.
“Our sensors could be widely useful for DNA methylation detection specifically and rapidly in the field,” says Shin.
The Latest Bing News on:
Cancer detection
- Screen helps detect colorectal canceron April 23, 2024 at 4:29 pm
The risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 23 for men and 1 in 25 for women, according to the American Cancer Society. Genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors ...
- Early cancer diagnosis aim ‘seriously off target’, report warnson April 23, 2024 at 4:28 pm
Experts said the NHS has set ‘ambitious’ goals, but ‘performance in this area has stubbornly stalled in recent years’.
- Kate Middleton Just Received a Huge Royal Honor Amid Cancer Treatmenton April 23, 2024 at 3:38 pm
Kate Middleton has been receiving treatment for a cancer diagnosis over the past couple of months, but in a bright spot amidst the harrowing experience, she just received a huge Royal honor. On ...
- Ethnic minorities in England ‘need more GP visits’ before cancer diagnosison April 23, 2024 at 3:02 pm
One in five people on average need at least three interactions – but for ethnic minorities figure rises to one in three ...
- Do cancer patients get enough time off work? Most struggle to balance finances, job dutieson April 23, 2024 at 10:48 am
Younger cancer patients are more likely to struggle with medical bills, skip needed care due to cost, the American Cancer Society study said ...
- King Charles Honors Kate Middleton After Cancer Diagnosison April 23, 2024 at 8:35 am
King Charles III gave Princess Kate an award previously given to Winston Churchill, David Attenborough and Stephen Hawking.
- Prince Louis Beams in 6th Birthday Photo Taken By Kate Middleton Amid Her Cancer Diagnosison April 23, 2024 at 6:00 am
Prince Louis is officially 6-years-old! The youngest child of Kate Middleton and Prince William marked his latest birthday on April 23 with the Prince and Princess of Wales releasing his portrait on ...
- Urine-based test detects head and neck canceron April 23, 2024 at 4:15 am
While the initial study focused on head and neck cancer, the team also analyzed urine samples of people with other cancers, such as breast and acute myeloid leukemia, and found that ultrashort ...
- Kate Middleton, Prince William have ‘private party’ for Prince Louis’ 6th birthday after her shocking cancer diagnosison April 23, 2024 at 3:53 am
As the youngest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales rings in his birthday, the royals are making sure that Louis' special day will be "as normal and fun" as possible.
- How Princess Kate's cancer diagnosis has changed her bond with Prince Williamon April 22, 2024 at 10:00 pm
The Princess of Wales is undergoing preventative treatment for cancer following her abdominal surgery in January – find out how her health struggles have changed her bond with husband Prince William ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Cancer detection
[google_news title=”” keyword=”cancer detection” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Light-based sensor
- Researchers pioneer sensor multiplexing for real-time decoding of different plant stresseson April 23, 2024 at 6:25 am
Science X is a network of high quality websites with most complete and comprehensive daily coverage of the full sweep of science, technology, and medicine news ...
- Study shines light on properties and promise of hexagonal boron nitride, used in electronic and photonics technologieson April 23, 2024 at 2:00 am
Single-photon emitters (SPEs) are akin to microscopic lightbulbs that emit only one photon (a quantum of light) at a time. These tiny structures hold immense importance for the development of quantum ...
- ForeFlight Crowdsources AHRS-based Turbulence Reportson April 22, 2024 at 9:00 am
The reports, generated from the Sentry data, show varying levels of intensity from smooth to severe at altitudes flown by aircraft carrying the Sentry devices.
- Organic CMOS Image Sensor Market Size Explorer’s Journey into Growth Navigationon April 21, 2024 at 2:06 pm
Report Ocean recently added a research report on “Organic CMOS Image Sensor Market”. The report includes an extensive analysis of the market’s characteristics, COVID-19 impact, size and growth, ...
- Sensors that detect plant stress could revolutionize farmingon April 20, 2024 at 6:00 am
The team is working on integrating the plant sensors into diagnostic systems that could not only detect stress but also initiate responses.
- Sony’s Starvis 2 Sensor available in IDS NXT Malibu for superior low-light imagingon April 19, 2024 at 1:04 am
IDS expands its product line for intelligent image processing and launches a new IDS NXT Malibu camera. It enables AI-based image processing, video compression, and streaming in full 4K ...
- mSAIL: Milligram-Scale Multi-Modal Sensor Platform for Monarch Butterfly Migration Trackingon April 16, 2024 at 9:19 am
Each fall, millions of monarch butterflies across the northern US and Canada migrate up to 4000km to overwinter in specific mountain peaks in central Mexico. To track monarchs precisely and study ...
- New colorful plastic films for versatile sensors and electronic displayson April 15, 2024 at 8:53 am
Innovative electronics is one of the many applications of modern plastics. Some recent research efforts have used plastic to improve the color realism of display technologies.
- Aqara’s new motion sensor works with Matter and Thread, but that means problemson April 10, 2024 at 3:51 pm
Aqara’s Thread-based Motion and Light Sensor P2 ($33.99) has been on my smart home wish list since it was announced way back in 2022 — and now, it’s finally here. My home runs on motion sensors, and I ...
- Perovskite LEDs for next-generation digital displays can detect fingerprints, changing light conditions and moreon April 10, 2024 at 2:00 am
Researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, have developed a digital display screen where the LEDs themselves react to touch, light, fingerprints and the user's pulse, among other things. Their ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Light-based sensor
[google_news title=”” keyword=”light-based sensor” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]