Rare Earth Nanoparticles for Imaging
January 13, 2015 | Terry Sharrer
A crucial question in cancer diagnosis is whether or not a malignancy has spread. Early metastases can be hard to detect, even with lymph node biopsy. To address this problem, a scientific team at Rutgers University has developed a new imaging technique that relies on short wave infrared light and dyes made of rare earth which are encapsulated in human albumin. “The researchers have demonstrated positive results in laboratory mice and have shown that the spread of cancer even on a very small scale can be detected earlier than with traditional techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or NIR imaging. This new approach may open up new avenues for early intervention.” MORE
Image Credit: Rutgers University