Scots scientists have developed a powerful new technique that could help detect cancer earlier.
The University of St Andrews boffins, have advanced a new technology that relies on a technique known as "Raman spectroscopy".
The technique involves the use of monochromatic light which, when directed at a cell, interacts with every biological molecule within it.
By analysing the light's frequency and polarization, researchers are able to identify the cells components and detect disease.
Professor Kishan Dholakia from the School of Physics & Astronomy and Professors C. Simon Herrington and Andrew Riches from the Bute Medical School led the work.
Professor Dholakia said: "Light may reveal so much information. The Raman signal given off by every type of molecule, by the interaction between different molecules, and by different thicknesses of molecules is unique, and as such, may be used to analyse a molecular species both qualitatively and quantitatively.
"While initial Raman spectroscopy was unable to analyse most biological samples due to the interference from the background fluorescence of water, buffers, or media present in the sample, new types of Raman spectroscopy have been developed that solve this problem.”
Professor Herrington added: "This novel technology eliminates many of the problems that prevent Raman spectroscopy being used in a clinical setting, such as the fluorescence generated by the environment in which cells are embedded. This approach holds great promise for the more accurate identification of cancer cells."
The study has been published in the latest edition of the international journal Analytical Chemistry.
