Magneto-Nanosensor Measures Biomarkers in Clinical Samples

An ultrasensitive magnetic nanosensor (magneto-nanosensor) can measure biomarkers in a number of clinical samples such as blood, urine, and saliva. It promises to detect disease much earlier than ever before.

The magneto-nanosensor is very sensitive: a small amount of protein can be tested in a drop of blood to detect the change cancer causes in the bloodstream. This advance is important for early detection of cancer, because many cancers require an ultrasensitive biomarker to identify cancer early when the proteins are not as frequent.

With effective, yet inexpensive equipment, the magneto-nanosensor can be made affordable in the data industry because it is a chip. The chips are 1.2 cm x 1 cm, each containing an array of 64 magneto resistive sensors that can test a diverse range of biological fluids. Because the chip has 64 sensors, it allows tests for multiple types of cancer to take place simultaneously. The chip is also microfluidic, meaning that only a drop or two of blood are necessary for the test.

Dr. Patrick Brown of the Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine (Stanford, CA, USA) attests most ovarian tumors are the size of an onion when identified. He said that if given sufficient lead-time, ovarian cancer can be detected, but current tests are not sufficiently sensitive. The magneto-nanosensor presents the sensitivity necessary to identify tumors when they are as small as a blueberry.

Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, professor of radiology & bioengineering, and director of the molecular imaging program at Stanford, coauthored a paper that will appear in the October 2009 edition of Nature Medicine. The paper proves that the magneto-nanosensors are over 1,000 times more sensitive and effective than the current gold standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

Related Links:
Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine
Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection