New Microchip Detects Cancer

Using nanomaterials, researchers at the University of Toronto have created a microchip that not only detects cancer, but also can tell what kind of cancer and its severity. Even better, they say the experimental new chip detects cancer cells at the early stage, when the disease is still treatable.

The chip is made with "nanowires," according to a Computerworld article, which can detect trace amounts of cancerous biomarkers. Lead investigator Shana Kelley, quoted in the article, said the current technology requires a roomful of computers and doesn't give very accurate results. But the new breakthrough chip promises to change all of that:

"Our team was able to measure biomolecules on an electronic chip the size of your fingertip and analyze the sample within half an hour. The instrumentation required for this analysis can be contained within a unit the size of a BlackBerry."

The article discusses other recent nanotechnology breakthroughs in the detection and treatment of cancer, including "nanobees" used to deliver bee venom to tumors and nanoparticles to treat ovarian cancer.

Image courtesy of Sarindam7, via Wikimedia Commons