Use of nanotechnology for the development of novel cancer biomarkers

Abstract

Novel nanotechnologies can complement and augment existing genomic and proteomic techniques employed to analyze variations across different tumor types, thus offering the potential to distinguish between normal and malignant cells. Sensitive biosensors constructed out of nanoscale components (e.g., nanocantilevers, nanowires and nanochannels) can recognize genetic and molecular events and have reporting capabilities, thereby offering the potential to detect rare molecular signals associated with malignancy. Such signals may then be collected for analysis by nanoscale harvesters that selectively isolate cancer-related molecules from tissues. Another area with near-term potential for the early detection of cancer is the identification of mutations and genomic instability.

Keywords::

• microarray
• nanomedicine
• raman spectroscopy
• surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the National Library of Medicine at the NIH, Bethesda (MD, USA) for resources of information and Ms Kevanique Cherry and Ms Jennifer Thoms for technical help.