Nov 26 2010
Illinois researchers have developed a new imaging technique that has the ability to hone in on cancer cells by utilizing laser light. The researchers have exhibited that cancer cells can be identified in five minutes by utilizing nonlinear interferometric vibrational imaging (NIVI) with high precision.
Physician and Professor Stephen A. Boppart led the research for the new imaging technique. He stated that the existing methods for detecting cancer cells are subjective in nature. He added that the research team wanted to make a more rapid and quantitative medical diagnostic process. By using NIVI, cancer can be used in a non-invasive and timelier manner.
The imaging technique identifies the proteins in tissue, which accumulate in the cancer cells to identify cancer swiftly. Light rays are utilized to enhance the molecules’ vibrational resonance. Every molecule has a distinct vibrational energy state, which when improved generates signals. The signals can be utilized to detect the abnormal protein concentration in the cells.
The researchers stated that NIVI has the ability to separate the molecular signal. It provides the image utilizing two light beams - one for exciting the tissue and for isolating the signal and one for reference. Analyzing the images display blue for healthy cells and red for cancer cells.
Boppart added that another advantage of the imaging technique is in measuring the boundaries of the cancerous tumors.