Descrizione del progetto
Un biosensore miRNA per lo screening del cancro al polmone allo stadio iniziale
Il tumore polmonare è responsabile per la maggioranza dei decessi legati al cancro nel mondo. Nonostante la maggior parte dei tumori polmonari sia classificata come carcinoma polmonare non a piccole cellule (NSCLC), ovvero un tipo meno aggressivo, l’esito infausto è dovuto alla diagnosi tardiva. Il progetto MI-SCAN, finanziato dall’UE, è volto a promuovere il rilevamento non invasivo del cancro polmonare in fase iniziale (I, II) utilizzando i biomarcatori di miRNA. Gli scienziati svilupperanno un dispositivo microfluidico che impiega sonde per miRNA combinate a nanoparticelle d’oro per bersagliare i biomarcatori di miRNA presenti nelle cellule tumorali del polmone. Per ottenere un rilevamento sensibile, il metodo utilizzato è quello della spettroscopia Raman amplificata da superfici (SERS). Questo biosensore agisce con il prelievo non invasivo di campioni di espettorato, superando la complessità e l’invasività dei metodi standard di riferimento attualmente impiegati per la diagnosi del cancro polmonare.
Obiettivo
Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in the world accounting for an estimated 1.8 million deaths, 18.4% of the total in 2018. Approximately 85% of lung cancers are classified as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a less aggressive form of tumor than small cell lung cancer (the remaining 15% of all lung cancers).
The gold standard diagnostic methods for lung cancer patients include X-ray, low-dose CT and sputum cytology which are not efficient for early stage diagnosis of lung cancer. Lately, analysis of molecular markers has been proposed as a useful tool for cancer diagnosis in early stage. Molecular analysis of sputum is reported for identifying the cells bearing tumor-related genetic aberrations; therefore, it is specific and sensitive than cytological analysis. Furthermore, using non-invasive sputum sample have potential application for screening by molecular methods for regular health checking clinics.
The proposed interdisciplinary methodology is to combine the Micro-RNA (miRNA) bioassay on microfluidic chip with Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. The goal of the project is to develop non-invasive detection of early stage (I, II) lung cancer using miRNA biomarker on-chip with multiplexed SERS technology. The overall system integrates a microfluidic device with gold particle linked with RNA probes that can capture target miRNA biomarkers for lung cancer cells. The SERS is used to generate a signal peaks when a positive test result occurs.
Importantly, this biosensor platform will have several advantages over existing techniques. i) It is a label-free, amplification-free method for rapid miRNA detection. ii) The sensor platform can monitor multiple targets simultaneously. The project will eventually develop a portable and novel integrated platform by incorporating commercially available custom made portable Raman detectors for sensitive and selective detection of lung cancer at very early stage.
Campo scientifico
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsbiosensors
- social sciencessociologydemographymortality
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologylung cancer
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologycytology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsRNA
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinatore
36310 Vigo Pontevedra
Spagna