Detecting cancer becomes particularly challenging once tumor cells metastasize, or spread, to other organs—a process that frequently occurs through the lymphatic system. Accurate identification of cancerous cells in the lymph nodes is essential for guiding treatment decisions.
Published in Physical Review Applied, the new research from Warwick introduces a non-toxic, non-radioactive device leveraging the unique magnetic properties of diamonds to diagnose metastasized breast cancer. The sensor is handheld, ultra-sensitive, and capable of operating at long ranges, offering surgeons a powerful new tool in cancer detection.
Alex Newman, a PhD student in Warwick’s Physics Department and the study’s first author, explained: “There is a real demand for versatile, non-toxic ways to locate cancer. We reduced the sensor head to just 10 mm, making it the first diamond-based sensor suitable for endoscopic use and keyhole surgery. It can detect just one hundredth of the typical clinical dose of magnetic tracer fluid.”
The diamond sensor functions by detecting iron oxide nanoparticles injected into tumors prior to or during breast cancer surgery. The magnetic tracer travels from the tumor to the lymph nodes alongside metastasized cancer cells. Using the sensor, surgeons can precisely locate the nodes that need to be removed, potentially halting further spread.
Its compact design is achieved by combining a tiny diamond (0.5 mm³) with a small permanent magnet on the probe head, eliminating bulky electronics and allowing for a portable, versatile tool.
Senior author Professor Gavin Morley noted: “Diamonds sense magnetic fields thanks to nitrogen vacancy centres, which allow them to detect minute changes in magnetic fields and give the diamonds a distinctive pink hue. Beyond medical applications, this technology could be used in spacecraft and fusion energy research.”
Traditional methods for tracing cancer, such as radioactive tracers or blue dyes, have significant drawbacks. Radioactive tracers require specialized handling and are unavailable in many hospitals, while blue dyes can cause allergic reactions in some patients. The diamond-based sensor’s ability to detect magnetic tracers offers a safer, more widely accessible alternative.
Stuart Robertson, Consultant Breast Cancer Surgeon at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, commented: “Magnetic localisation has become a regular part of my breast cancer practice for detecting impalpable lesions and lymph nodes. Collaborating with the University of Warwick helps us optimize magnetic technology even further.”
As the use of magnetic tracer fluids becomes more widespread, the diamond sensor promises a smaller, more sensitive detection method. Future applications could extend beyond breast cancer to lung, liver, colorectal, and esophageal cancers, potentially benefiting even more patients.
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