Graphene shows cancer detection potential in new study

Interfacing brain cells with graphene has been shown to aid the detection of cancer in a new study.

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have shown they can differentiate a single hyperactive cancerous cell from a normal cell in a simple and noninvasive way.

This is because the atomic vibration energy in graphene's crystal lattice varies depending on whether the cell it is contact with is cancerous or healthy, because the cancer cell's hyperactivity results in a higher negative charge and the release of more protons.

The change in vibration can be pinpointed by Raman mapping with a resolution of 300 nanometres, allowing the activity of a single cell to be monitored precisely. The technique is now being studied in mice, with human biopsy experiments planned later.

Vikas Berry, associate professor and head of chemical engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said: "Once a patient has brain tumour surgery, we could use this technique to see if the tumour relapses. For this, we would need a cell sample we could interface with graphene and look to see if cancer cells are still present."

It was noted that the method could also be used to detect sickle cells and differentiate between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, among other applications.

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