Descripción del proyecto
Una nueva sonda espectrométrica de mano para el diagnóstico «in vivo» del cáncer de piel
Recientemente, la espectrometría de masas (EM) ambiental ha atraído la atención en diversos campos de investigación, incluido el diagnóstico clínico, por tratarse de un enfoque sencillo, rápido y no invasivo. El proyecto financiado con fondos europeos SKIN-CANCER-PROBE propone desarrollar una nueva sonda de mano con un mecanismo de microextracción para moléculas pequeñas que pueda combinarse con la EM para la realización de análisis en tiempo real. La sonda se utilizará como herramienta de diagnóstico para la detección rápida y no invasiva del cáncer de piel. Se diseñará como un dispositivo de muestreo de superficie para el análisis puntual y la imagenología química en modo continuo de la superficie. El dispositivo podrá realizar desorciones mediante una unión de disolución, y los metabolitos desorbidos se enviarán al espectrómetro de masas. Durante el proceso de desarrollo como prueba de concepto se utilizarán como diana biomarcadores del cáncer de piel.
Objetivo
Ambient mass spectrometry (AMS) has gained substantial attention in numerous research fields including clinical diagnosis as being a
nondestructive, fast and simple approach. Despite of the advances in mass spectrometry (MS) one of its main disadvantages is the simultaneous introduction of the matrix and analyte to MS that results in low sensitivity associated with a high background and ion suppression, and frequent instrumental maintenance. Therefore, there is a need for a ground-breaking sampling tool that is combinable with MS and that does not compromise the above mentioned merits.
Here we propose (i) to develop a novel handheld probe, which will have micro extraction mechanism for small molecules/biomarkers from the surface and can be combined with MS for real time targeted and untargeted analyses; (ii) to utilize the probe as a clinical diagnostic tool for noninvasive fast determination of skin cancer. The probe will be designed as a surface touch sampling device suitable for spot analysis and for continuous mode chemical imaging of surface. The device will be integrated with online desorption using a solvent junction and desorbed metabolites will be directed to MS. As proof-of-concept, skin cancer biomarkers and some other typical skin metabolites will be targeted during the probe development. Preliminary analyses with the probe will be conducted on the surface of agarose gel spiked with the selected metabolites mimicking artificial skin surface using MS in targeted mode. Upon development of the probe and prove of the detection of the biomarkers from the synthetic skin media the study will be extended to in vivo mice model with tumor. This novel probe will make a significant impact as rapid and reliable diagnostic tool. This project will open an opportunity for the researcher to develop her future career by implementing the novel probe in emerging research fields (e.g. clinical, forensic, etc.), where fast and reliable analytical tools are in high demand.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
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Régimen de financiación
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinador
06800 Ankara
Turquía