Pill for Better Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
Researchers from the University of Michigan have developed a diagnostic imaging pill enabling the early and more accurate diagnosis of cancerous tumors in breast tissue.
The pill contains a targeting molecule attached to a near-infrared fluorophore that, when absorbed into the bloodstream, will target cancerous tumor cells in breast tissue. A doctor could then use desktop fluorescent imaging equipment to see if any of the targeting molecules bound to any cells in the breast. This new screening method would be cheaper and more effective than current approaches.
The research was conducted in the lab of Greg Thurber, an assistant professor of chemical engineering, and was led by Sumit Bhatnagar, a PhD student in chemical engineering. The project was a collaboration between the College of Engineering and the College of Pharmacy. Kirti Verma, Yongjun Hu, Eshita Khera, Aaron Priluck and David Smith also contributed to the work.
