Nanoflares Illuminate Cancer Cells

Nov-23-14 The nanoflare particle binds to cancer cells and causes them to glow, allowing doctors to easily identify different types of cancerous tissue by subjecting it to laser light.

The nanoflare particles are made up of a bit of gold that has been coated with fluorescent molecules and pieces of DNA that have been chosen to bind to the RNA in specific cancer cells. Once the particles have been placed in a blood sample, they will bind with the RNA of the cells and release its fluorescent molecules, causing the cell to glow under laser light. By attaching different DNA strands and fluorescent molecules of different colors to the nanoflares, specific types of cancer cells can be identified.

The new method has two advantages over other ways of detecting circulating tumor cells. The nanoflares allow the researchers to identify the different cancer calls, and the method keeps the cells alive so that they can be cultured (other methods often destroy the cells.)

Large Image:Cancer cells with specific genes glow red once infiltrated by nanoflares (left). The nanoparticles don’t glow in cells without the gene (right)

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