MIT researchers have developed a catheter-based nanosensor system using carbon nanotubes to detect bladder cancer recurrence far earlier than current methods. The device detects nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP-22), an FDA-approved bladder cancer biomarker, directly inside the bladder at locally elevated concentrations. A rotating ball lens within the catheter tip maps fluorescent signals from the nanosensors, creating chemical images that reveal both the presence and location of tumors. Animal studies show the approach is 180 times more sensitive than conventional urinalysis and can detect tumors as small as 16 square millimeters. The team is now working on a more compact version for clinical use and plans to integrate the sensors into cystoscopes. The technology could also be adapted for detecting other cancers and diseases via endoscopy.
