Tuesday, 10th July 2007 (3702 views)

A new imaging technology called the laser optoacoustic imaging system (LOIS) is currently being worked on by scientists, it has been reported.

Science Daily reports that the American Chemical Society claims that LOIS can detect early-stage cancer by use of a laser beam and ultrasound in a method that could eventually join current techniques such as CT and MRI scans.

Furthermore, gold could be a key element in this process, as research involved imaging laboratory mice with the system before and after being injected with gold nanorods.

Gold nanorods are tiny clusters of gold atoms in the shape of rods which scientists are currently examining to see their potential for use as carriers for cancer-treatment drugs and even digital data storage, according to the American Chemical Society.

"Very low concentrations of the nanorods successfully enhanced the LOIS images, revealing deep tissues that cannot be visualized with other imaging techniques," the American Chemical Society revealed.

According to the report, the capability to link gold nanorods to cancer cell-targeting monoclonal antibodies could result in a "promising new approach" to early cancer detection, the report concludes.

 

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