A scientific team from the Center for Nanoparticle Research within
the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has developed a multifunctional
endoscope that integrates transparent bioelectronics such as lasers with
theranostic nanoparticles (NPs), therapy to test new medication and
tailor a unique treatment plan for a patient. Conventional endoscopes lack the spatial resolution necessary to detect and treat small cancers and other abnormalities.
The team, led by the director of the Centre for Nanopaticle Research
Professor Taeghwan Hyeon, demonstrated a multifunctional surgical
endoscope system to diagnose and treat intestinal diseases, such as
colon cancers. This 'smart' endoscope system contains transparent
bioelectronics, which provides pH-based sensing combined with radio
frequency ablation (RFA); a medical procedure in which part of the
electrical conduction of a tumor is ablated using heat generated from a
medium frequency alternating current.
The system's additional sensors for monitoring mechanical contacts
and mapping temperatures provide accurate physiological sensing
capabilities during cancer detection and ablation. The transparency
enables optimal integration of a number of multifunctional sensing and
therapeutic components on the endoscope tip without blocking the line of
sight of the camera or light. By loading transparent bioelectronics on
the camera of the endoscope, the tissue observed through the camera in
fluorescence mapping and phototherapies can be exactly matched with the
characterized ablated tissues by transparent devices. The system also
has custom-designed biocompatible NPs with phototherapeutic and
chemotherapeutic agents, which can be delivered locally and activated
with light. According to the team's paper, this multifunctional
endoscopic system could be useful for the detection of flat or depressed
abnormal growths.
No comments:
Post a Comment