IBM have an IC which can detect and isolate particles at the nanoscale.
Exosome particles, which point up the development of cancer and other diseases, can be isolated and analysed.
The technology can detect particles down to 20nm.
The 2cm square IC has an asymmetric pillar array which sorts a liquid passing through them into isolated particles.
Although the technology can be used to detect the presence of several diseases before any physical symptoms have appeared, it is initially being directed at prostate cancer.
Over the last couple of years, a cross-disciplinary team at IBM Research led by Dr. Joshua Smith, research scientist and master inventor, and Dr. Gustavo Stolovitzky, program director of IBM Translational Systems Biology and Nanobiotechnology, have been exploring the idea by retooling silicon technology.
“The societal impact of this research is that it could enable physicians to detect cancer early…when there are more possibilities of being cured,” Stolovitzky said. “We wanted this research to be in the area of cancer and also the area of detecting DNA and viruses like Zika. Everything reduces down to the same thing: being able to have a small and affordable diagnostic tool that can detect minute quantities of biomarker particles that tell physicians something about a person’s health.”
scale of biology
Smith added: “The ability for physicians to regularly screen an individual’s biological profile in an affordable and noninvasive manner has the potential to usher in a new era of preventative healthcare and further our understanding of the factors that contribute to disease progression.”
