Nanodevice ‘can enhance cancer treatment monitoring’

A new nanoscale device has demonstrated the potential to greatly improve treatment monitoring for cancer patients prescribed with methotrexate.

Developed by the University of Montreal, the miniaturised device uses gold nanoparticles on its surface to change the colour of detectable light to reflects the exact concentration of the drug in blood samples.

Currently, this is accomplished using cumbersome, expensive platforms that require experienced personnel because of the many samples that need to be manipulated. As well as being compact, the new device took less than 60 seconds to produce results, compared to 30 minutes for current systems, which also made it considerably cheaper to use.

Jean-Francois Masson and Joelle Pelletier of the University of Montreal's department of chemistry, said: "In the near future, we can foresee the device in doctors' offices or even at the bedside, where patients would receive individualised and optimal doses while minimising the risk of complications."

Methotrexate is a useful tool in treating very severe conditions and that cannot be treated with other medications. However, it can cause serious and life-threatening side effects, meaning its usage needs to be monitored with great care.