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Cancer can be diagnosed with special paper test strips
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed an express method for detecting cancer in the human body, which does not require much time and, moreover, is not costly. A new method for diagnosing malignant tumors resembles the pregnancy test, which is habitual for all, and is carried out on the same principle: with the help of a small amount of urine and a special test strip, the result can be seen in a couple of minutes.
Several years ago, a system for diagnosing non-infectious diseases was introduced which was based on synthetic biomarkers that can amplify signals from certain enzymes that are cleaved in proteins by a peptide bond. In this case, it is spoken about MMP - matrix metalloproteinases of the tumor, due to which the structure of proteins is broken, and cancer cells grow. The scientific group, led by Sangita Bakhtiyya, created tiny particles, which were coated with a special solution for binding to MMP tumors. Nanoparticles, after entering the body, gradually begin to accumulate in the pathological formation, where MMD begins to decompose the peptides deposited on their surface. These nanoparticles, together with the decay products are collected in the kidneys and are excreted from the body with urine. Determine their presence in the urine can be mass-spectral analysis. The specialists made the procedure easier and adapted the particles so that they were determined visually by means of an enzyme immunoassay, similar to the test systems used to detect certain infections in the body, as well as tests to determine pregnancy.
Special strips are impregnated at a certain level with antibodies to peptides (in the form of bands). When the strip is immersed in a urine sample in which the antigen is contained, interaction with the antibody begins. Urine, gradually absorbed and interacts with antibodies to different enzymes, which are deposited in several lines. If one of the lines on the test strip begins to manifest, then the desired enzyme is a sample of urine. As the authors note, this express method can be adapted for the determination of different types of peptides, characteristic of different types of cancer or at different stages of the process.
Express diagnostics of cancers was tested on laboratory rodents. In the test, scientists used synthetic biomarkers, which were adapted to determine colorectal oncology. In addition to identifying cancers, specialists have also been able to identify thrombosis of blood vessels, which indicates that this method does not require expensive equipment or specially trained personnel. With a small amount of urine and an express test, you can also diagnose heart and vascular disease.
According to the author of the project, Sagnita Bhatia, the method developed by her group will be in great demand in developed countries. In addition, the research group of Bhatia has already acquired a grant to create a business plan for the commercial implementation of the method and has already begun clinical trials.
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