Flexible Film May Lead to Phone-Sized Cancer Detector
January 19, 2016 | University of MichiganEstimated reading time: 3 minutes
A thin, stretchable film that coils light waves like a Slinky could one day lead to more precise, less expensive monitoring for cancer survivors.
The University of Michigan chemical engineers who developed the film say it could help patients get better follow-up treatment with less disruption to their everyday lives.
The film provides a simpler, more cost-effective way to produce circularly polarized light, an essential ingredient in the process that could eventually provide an early warning of cancer recurrence. The film is detailed in a paper published online in Nature Materials.
"More frequent monitoring could enable doctors to catch cancer recurrence earlier, to more effectively monitor the effectiveness of medications and to give patients better peace of mind. This new film may help make that happen," said Nicholas Kotov, the Joseph B. and Florence V. Cejka Professor of Engineering.
Circular polarization is similar to the linear version that's common in things like polarized sunglasses. But instead of polarizing light in a two-dimensional wave, circular polarization coils it into a three-dimensional helix shape that can spin in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
Circular polarization is invisible to the naked eye, and it's rare in nature. That makes it useful in an up-and-coming cancer detection process that looks to be able to spot telltale signs of the disease in blood. Currently in the research stage, the process requires large, expensive machines to generate the circularly polarized light. Kotov believes the new film could provide a simpler, less expensive way to induce polarization.
The detection process identifies biomarkers—bits of protein and snippets of DNA—that are present in the blood from the earliest stages of cancer recurrence. It starts with synthetic biological particles that are made to be attractive to these biomarkers. The particles are first coated with a reflective layer that responds to circularly polarized light, then added to a small blood sample from the patient. The reflective particles bind to the natural biomarkers, and clinicians can see this when they examine the sample under circularly polarized light.
Page 1 of 2
Suggested Items
UHDI Fundamentals: ASC Sponsors Ultra High Density Interconnect Symposium
03/21/2024 | Anaya Vardya, American Standard CircuitsAmerican Standard Circuits (ASC) is a major sponsor of an upcoming symposium on one of the most talked about new technologies that has come along in quite a while: ultra high density interconnect (UHDI).
onsemi Aligns Business Groups to Expand Product Portfolio and Accelerate Growth
03/13/2024 | onsemionsemi announced the formation of the Analog and Mixed-Signal Group (AMG) which will be led by newly appointed group president, Sudhir Gopalswamy.
Indium Corporation Experts to Present at SEMI THERM
03/07/2024 | Indium CorporationIndium Corporation Global Account Manager and Senior Thermal Technologist Tim Jensen and Product Development Specialist for Thermal Interface Materials Miloš Lazić will present on thermal interface material (TIM) technology at SEMI-THERM, taking place March 25–28 in San Jose, California, U.S.
HARMAN Automotive Extends Partnership with Scuderia Ferrari
02/28/2024 | BUSINESS WIREHARMAN, an automotive electronics technology company and subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. focused on delivering consumer experiences at automotive grade, confirms it will continue as an Official partner of Scuderia Ferrari for a second Formula One season. The on-track marketing partnership extends to technology on the road, with Ferrari becoming the first automotive OEM to adopt a number of solutions from HARMAN’s in-cabin monitoring system, HARMAN Ready Care, for its next-generation road cars.
A System Designer’s Dream World at DuPont
02/07/2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineDesignCon 2024 was held January 30–February 1 in Silicon Valley, and Design007 Editor Andy Shaughnessy and I were there to experience this important show for PCB and system designers. We are always on the lookout for gems that showcase innovation and cutting-edge technology. Such an opportunity arose through a private tour at DuPont’s Silicon Valley Technology Center in Sunnyvale.