Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology (ICN), develop alternative cancer detection procedure

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Abstract:
The efficiency of this technique has been demonstrated in the detection of a marker model (the CA15-3), a protein of interest for the diagnosis of breast cancer, reported the CIN2

Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology (ICN), develop alternative cancer detection procedure

Barcelona | Posted on January 20th, 2010

A team of researchers, led by the group Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors, Research Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, CIN2, has developed an alternative that increases the sensitivity in detecting tumour proteins using gold nanoparticles.

The efficiency of this technique has been demonstrated in the detection of a marker model (the CA15-3), a protein of interest for the diagnosis of breast cancer, reported the CIN2. The proposed new system is similar to the conventional diagnostic ELISA system, but uses nanoparticles to enhance their sensitivity and reduce analysis time.

Arben Merkoçi, ICREA professor and leader of the CIN2 (ICN-CSIC), along with researchers and Federico Airo Adriano Ambrosi, has developed a new technique that is efficient and more sensitive to the current ‘kits' diagnosis of cancer, and it can also applied to many other conditions, not only in the clinical field but also in the environmental and food safety sector.

The method involves developing an optical immunoassay for the analysis of CA15-3, a protein known asa tumour marker used for screening breast cancer by detecting them in blood samples. The analysis of this protein is of special interest for the monitoring and treatment of this disease. The technique uses gold nanoparticles as carriers of anti-CA15-3 modified with an enzyme in order to amplify the optical signal.

This improves sensitivity immunoassay and significantly shortens analysis times compared to the tests conducted using standard ELISA technique. Merkoçi, leader of this project supported by the MICINN, says that "the proposed method offers significant improvements to current diagnostic systems, and opens avenues for the development of new techniques even more efficient in terms of cost and speed".

The project has also received support from the ACC1Ó, the agency in support of Catalan company competitiveness through technological enhancement, created with the aim of boosting the disposal of research projects of high risk. The CIN2 is a joint centre established by the Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology (ICN), which is part of the said group and the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC).

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Contacts:
Institut Català de Nanotecnologia (ICN)
Campus de la UAB - Facultat de Ciències
Edifici CM7
08193 – Bellaterra
Telèfon: + 34 93 581 44 08
Fax: + 34 93 581 44 11

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