On a global scale, skin cancers are the most common group of cancers diagnosed. Every year, between two and three million cases of non-melanoma skin cancers are reported, while melanoma skin cancers account for almost 132,000 occurrences. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), over 1.5 million new cases were reported in 2022.
Additionally, data from the Skin Cancer Foundation reveals that one out of every five Americans is likely to develop this disease throughout their lifetime. Traditionally, skin cancer is detected by expensive, time-consuming scans and other invasive high-frequency technologies.
Novel Terahertz Biosensor
Through the collaboration of multidisciplinary teams from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Glasgow, scientists led by Dr. Shohreh Nourinovin from Queen Mary's School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science have developed a groundbreaking biosensor that uses terahertz (THz) waves. The study details are discussed in the "Highly Sensitive Terahertz Metasurface Based on Electromagnetically Induced Transparency-Like Resonance in Detection of Skin Cancer Cells."
The novel biosensor provides a non-invasive and highly efficient solution for detecting cancer. This is made possible by leveraging the unique properties of THz waves to monitor subtle changes in cellular characteristics. It can detect skin cancer with remarkable sensitivity, paving the way for earlier and easier diagnoses.
The innovation of the device lies in its design. The biosensor features small, asymmetric resonators on a flexible substrate, which can detect precise changes in the properties of cells.
Conventional cancer detection methods depend solely on the refractive index. On the other hand, the novel device examines a combination of parameters, such as transmission magnitude, resonance frequency, and a value called "Full Width at Half Maximum" (FWHM). This comprehensive strategy offers a richer tissue image, enabling more accurate differentiation between healthy and cancerous cells. It also can potentially measure the degree of malignancy of the tissue.
Upon testing the device's effectiveness, the researchers found that it successfully differentiated between normal skin cells and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cells, even at various concentrations. According to Dr. Nourinovin, the applications of their study can extend far beyond the detection of cancer cells. This technology can also detect other diseases, like Alzheimer's.
What are Terahertz Waves?
The terahertz range refers to electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 3 millimeters and 30 micrometers and frequencies between 100 Gigahertz and ten terahertz. They are located between the microwave and infrared regions in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Terahertz wavelengths are strongly absorbed by liquids and metallic materials, making them ideal for biomedical imaging. They can also be used in other applications, such as airport security scanning and food inspection.
Commercial terahertz imaging has made great strides in recent years, progressing toward biomedical applications. Terahertz imaging is based on a versatile method for gathering images known as time-domain spectroscopy (TDS).
Unlike X-rays, terahertz waves possess low photon energies in the 0.4 to 40 meV range, making them safe for biological tissue. Because of this, THz-TDS systems can acquire x-ray-like images without harmful ionizing radiation.
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