California Science & Engineering (CALSEC) reported at the Seventh International Conference on Biological Physics that the bombardment of DNA nucleotides with femto-neutrons has resulted in novel findings about the interaction between subatomic particles and DNA nanoparticles which are million times larger. This interaction may help in establishing a completely different diagnostic approach for cancer.
Femto-neutrons, shorter than nanoprobes by a million times, are quick neutrons with a wavelength of 1 fm (femto-meter). In a first-time ever experiment, CALSEC researchers found it possible to target neutrons at oxygen atoms from a group of 30-odd other atoms of DNA molecules resulting in knocking out oxygen nuclei, thereby converting DNA into lower structured nucleic acids. This enables to count the number of oxygen atoms, atom by atom present in DNA molecules. The counting process helps to identify the difference of oxygen atoms between a tumor cell and an adjacent cell and thus helps in cancer diagnosis because hypoxic tumors tissues contain 50% to 90% lesser oxygen than normal tissue. This principle is called differential femto oximetry and the diagnostic probe used is called Oncosensor.
Orhan Nalcioglu, professor and director of the center for functional onco-imaging of the UCI School of Medicine, stated that this technique is due for animal trials.
Dr. Bogdan Maglich, chief scientist of CALSEC’s, suggested that their goal is to provide needle-free biopsy without intravenous fluid with insignificant “false negatives.” Oncosensor will enable a timely warning, painless, walk-in, immediate cancer diagnosis to patients, from outside the body, he added.
Dr. Nisar Syed, chancellor of American College of Radiation Oncology, explained that Oncosensor helps in eradicating malignant tumors through heat treatment referred as hyperthermia by highlighting the area of least oxygenated tissue to the surgeons.
Source: http://www.calseco.com