New lab-on-a-chip shows promise in cancer diagnosis

An international research project has resulted in the creation of an advanced type of nano-chip for use in early cancer detection.

Led by the Institute of Photonic Sciences at the Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats in Barcelona, the team was able to develop a lab-on-a-chip platform capable of detecting protein cancer markers in the blood.

Taking advantage of the latest advances in plasmonics, nano-fabrication, microfluids and surface chemistry, the device is able to detect cancer markers in very low concentrations, making it possible to flag up signs of the disease at an early stage.

Gold nanoparticles on its surface are chemically programed with an antibody receptor to specifically attract protein markers. When a drop of blood is injected into the chip, it circulates through the microchannels, allowing protein levels to be measured.

Not only is the chip reliable and sensitive, it is extremely compact, measuring only a few centimetres across.

Professor Romain Quidant, coordinator of the project, described the device as "an ultra-high sensitivity, state-of-the-art, powerful instrument that will benefit early detection and treatment monitoring of cancer".

According to the latest data from Cancer Research UK, there were a total of 159,178 deaths from cancer in the UK in 2011, with lung cancer being the biggest killer.