Unequivocally sensitive diamonds aid in the detection of tumors, without radiation

The University of Warwick has made a groundbreaking advancement in cancer diagnostics with the development of a new sensor that utilizes diamonds for more accurate and minimally invasive cancer detection.

This compact sensor, measuring just 0.5 mm³, is suitable for minimally invasive procedures like keyhole surgery. Its potential uses include localizing tumor tissue more precisely and sparing healthy areas better, a significant step towards reducing the drawbacks of current methods in cancer diagnostics.

Professor Gavin Morley, head of the research group, explains that diamonds can sense magnetic fields due to their nitrogen vacancy centers. These centers enable them to detect small changes in the magnetic field and give them a pink color.

The sensor detects magnetic fluids injected into patients before surgery. These fluids consist of iron oxide nanoparticles that accumulate where tumor cells are present. The sensor's sensitivity is due to the nitrogen vacancy centers in the diamond, making it an extremely accurate magnetometer.

Remarkably, the sensor responds to just a hundredth of the usual dose of magnetic marking fluid, making it highly sensitive. Breast cancer surgeon Stuart Robertson is working with magnetic localization and is exploring possibilities for further optimizing magnetic technology in clinical settings at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.

Nanodiamonds fluoresce, making them ideal tools for imaging. Initial studies suggest that the use of nanodiamonds in theranostics could be beneficial. In addition to detection, nanodiamonds are gaining attention in medicine due to their small size and surface, which is suitable for coupling drugs specifically to cancer cells.

Combined with drug transport, nanodiamonds can be used in new concepts known as theranostics, which involve diagnosis and therapy in a single procedure. The sensor is capable of making tumors visible without radiation, and with nanodiamonds, tumors could become visible and deliver the appropriate treatment, potentially reducing side effects.

Alex Newman, a PhD student at the University of Warwick's Physics department, played a key role in the development of the diamond-based sensor. Researchers from the University of Stuttgart, the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, and the University of Basel are also involved in developing the diamond-based sensor for detecting magnetic markers in cancer diagnostics.

Dominik Hochwarth, the editor of this article, has been writing for the website since September 2022. This article also recommends several other topics, including a light mini-EKG, a titanium implant for spinal fusion, memory training for people after stroke or epilepsy, and information about Corona vaccination scheduling and priority.