Laser light enables detection of colorectal cancer biomarker in blood within minutes
Researchers often use antibodies to detect specific molecules or biological markers because they are remarkably precise at recognizing their targets. However, finding the faint signals of cancer in blood samples is a challenge even for the most reliable techniques.
Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University have discovered that laser light can enhance the detection of colorectal cancer biomarkers in blood samples, enabling the identification of these markers within minutes. Conventional immunoassays typically require lengthy incubation and are less sensitive when biomarker levels are extremely low.
The team developed a Light-induced Acceleration System (LAC-SYS) that uses laser irradiation to accelerate antibody-antigen interactions, allowing for the rapid and precise detection of CEACAM-5, a biomarker associated with colorectal cancer. By attaching multiple antibodies to microscopic beads and introducing them into a tiny flow channel containing blood plasma, the researchers discovered that applying light caused the beads to assemble around CEACAM-5.
This method detected concentrations of CEACAM-5 as low as 1–10 picograms per milliliter in diluted blood plasma, representing a potential improvement of one to two orders of magnitude over conventional immunoassays. The team found that CEACAM-5 exists in blood as nanoscale aggregates, which may enhance the signal produced by the antibody-coated beads.
While this technology shows promise for early and non-invasive cancer detection, further clinical testing is required to establish its reliability. The researchers also hope to adapt the method for detecting other disease-related biomarkers, such as those associated with dementia and infectious diseases.
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