Engineers at MIT have developed a groundbreaking nanoparticle sensor aimed at early cancer diagnosis facilitated through a simple urine test. These nanoparticles are designed to shed DNA barcodes when they encounter cancer-associated proteases in the body, allowing for the detection of these barcodes in urine samples. This innovative diagnostic tool not only identifies various cancerous proteins but can also discern tumor types and treatment responses.
During tests in mice, the sensors successfully detected the activity of multiple enzymes related to tumors, and the design can scale to recognize at least 46 DNA barcodes in a single sample using a microfluidic device. The aim is to democratize cancer diagnostics, making it accessible and affordable, particularly in low-resource settings. Engineered to work similarly to at-home COVID tests, the sensors rely on CRISPR technology for easy analysis.
The research, published in Nature Nanotechnology, highlights the potential for these sensors to inform on tumor classification and treatment monitoring. Currently, the team is working towards human trials, hoping to refine the technology for practical application in clinical settings.
