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(Ivanhoe Newswire) A new imaging technique could help doctors get a better view of tumors.
Stanford researchers developed a specially designed dye containing nanoparticles tiny particles between 1 and 100 nanometers in diameter. The new technology picks up Raman signals that molecules emit in response to light, which occur when energy levels of electrons are modified by weak interactions within a molecule.
Current imaging technology, known as single-cell flow cytometry, can produce as many as 17 simultaneous visualizations. The new nanoparticle imaging could simultaneously image as many as 100 features within a single cell.
Using the technology, scientists may be able to better diagnose cancers by determining how aggressive the tumors cells are, and identifying a tumor cells stage of progression and resistance to chemotherapy drugs, helping them test cancer treatments more quickly.
Further research is needed to fully develop the new technology.
SOURCE: PLoS ONE, published online April 15, 2009
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