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Two Scholars Develop Nano-particle to Detect Cancer

Two Korean scientists developed a technology to detect cancer tumors less than 2 millimeters in size by using a nano-particle, which is one hundred-thousandth of a hair. In the event this technology is commercialized, it could bring a breakthrough in the early detection of cancer.

The research team led by Yonsei University Professors Cheon Jin-woo (Dept. of Chemistry) and Seo Jin-seok (Medical School) said that they developed a hypersensitive nano-particle “Mayo” that could find diseases. The new finding was posted on the Internet site of Nature Medicine. They applied for domestic and international patents.

According to their research paper, a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan has a limitation to find cancer because it can detect only cancer tumors that are further developed. In particular, it can hardly find a cancer that is less than 2 millimeters in size.

However, this newly developed nano-particle functions to detect cancer and other diseases when it is injected or swallowed through a catheter into the human body. Previously, Harvard University developed CLIO that was utilized to detect micro cancers in the body, but it could not provide clear MRI imaging. According to the Mayo developers, their new nano-particle technology performs better in MRI experiments.

In their experiment, the nano-particle technology proved that Mayo detected a 2mm-sized cancer that CLIO could not find. Dr. Cheon explained, “Mayo generated a signal that was about 10 times greater than CLIO.”
/ 입력시간: 2006. 12.27. 08:39