A cancer detector tracker that could soon see the light of day

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and women, but taken early, it can be treated effectively. Researchers at the University of Buffalo are creating a cancer detector tracker that can detect the early stages of the disease.

This cancer detector tracker will consist of several elements. The first is an implant placed just under the skin and which reacts to biomarkers in the blood. A smart health connected bracelet will also be used and will communicate directly with the implant. Finally, a smartphone (or a computer) will receive the information.

Josep Jornet, assistant professor of electrical engineering at the UB, explains that the device could ideally use nanoparticles in the blood, but that it just isn't practical. "Once you have them in your blood, something will eventually filter them out. "

The project will last three years, after which the team will present their work to the National Science Foundation. In the third year, the scientists will create fake arms to Review their prototype. If all goes well, the experiment will then be carried out on human subjects. The group of researchers also works with Intel Labs. Intel Labs provides the technology and helps manage all of the sensitive information that will be collected by the devices.

Right now, says Josep Jornet, there is only one FDA approved chemical that researchers can add to the implant to make it reactive to blood indicators. Another issue: although the sensors are already small enough to be placed under the skin, one of the biggest challenges of the next three years will be to effectively deduce the warning signs of cancer. An indicator can be linked to different diseases and, on the other hand, a disease can have several indicators.

While the portable system will specifically look for signs of lung cancer, Josep Jornet explains that by changing some biomarkers, the device could also detect other cancers.

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