IISc researchers develop least invasive method to locate tumour cells
Positron Emission Tomography
biocompatible small molecule
Researchers from the(IISc) have developed a minimally invasive and cost-effective technique to locate tumour cells in the human body.According to the researchers, tumor cells have higher metabolic activity compared to healthy tissue and consequently consume a significant amount of glucose. The current diagnostic technique used to locate tumors,(PET), exploits this property.Clinicians inject patients with radioactive tracers, which accumulate at the tumour site and help pinpoint it. However, PET is expensive and poses the risk of radiation accumulation in case of repeated scans. Researchers from the Department of Bioengineering have developed athat can be used to visualise tumour sites with high metabolic activity non-invasively.In this method, a near-infrared (NIR) laser beam is shone on light-absorbing molecules (chromophores) sent to the target region, which then expand, creating a pressure change. The change can be picked up as an auditory signal, and analysing these signals allows scientists to construct 3D images of the target region.The method is particularly useful for pinpointing superficial tumours.
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