Advanced cancer screening and early diagnostics
Over 1.7 million cancer-related deaths per year are recorded in Europe alone. EU-funded scientists exploited the latest in nanotechnology to deliver nanotools for clinical, laboratory and point-of-care devices with work on the NAMDIATREAM (Nanotechnological toolkits for multi-modal disease diagnostics and treatment monitoring) project. The toolkits are based on four different technological platforms, each with unique nanotechnology feature applied for unprecedented efficiency of cancer diagnostics. They detect biomarkers of cancer and cancer cells in microlitre volumes of blood and urine. Exploitation of fluorescent nanomaterials (quantum dots) enabled the creation of ultra-small diagnostic probes covered with single-domain antibodies against tumour biomarkers. This tool offers superior sensitivity and photostability compared to state-of-the-art alternatives, as well as the capability for multiplexed detection of tumour molecular signatures. Another immunodiagnostic device relies on antibody-functionalised magnetic core/noble metal shell nanorods that bind tumour biomarkers. The resulting change in the optically observed dynamic response to an externally applied time-varying magnetic field enables the detection and quantification of target molecule concentration in a straightforward biological sample. Nanocrystals with non-linear optical properties take the advantage of the infrared spectrum for unique deep tissue imaging with enhanced sharp contrast against the surrounding background. Selectively targeted to tumour cells, they provide a stable long lasting signal and therefore efficient cancer detection and monitoring. Three products based on this technology have already been licensed and commercialised. Finally, segmented magnetic nanowires acting as barcode-type labels for disease marker detection were paired with unique optical-magnetic sensor detection platform for selective multiplexed detection of cancer biomarkers. Such achievements were secured through the large consortium commitment to deliver high quality, safety-assured and scalable products validated in matching in vitro models for pre-clinical testing, and benchmarked against both clinical and industrial gold standards. The outstanding work resulted in selection of NAMDIATREAM as the best of over 1,000 projects in the field of nanotechnologies and advanced materials funded by EU funding entities. Contributing to the European industrial and societal improvement, these tools foster early detection of cancer with reduced invasiveness, cost effectiveness and ease of use with the objective to simplify routine population screening for prompt intervention with drastically improved patient treatment outcomes and reduced health care costs.
Keywords
Cancer, early diagnosis, nanotechnological toolkits, disease diagnostics, treatment monitoring
