| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/Y010779/1 |
| Title: |
Engineering an ultra-thin opto-acoustic fibre optic probe for cancer characterisation |
| Principal Investigator: |
Smith, Dr RJ |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Faculty of Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Nottingham |
| Scheme: |
New Investigator Award |
| Starts: |
01 June 2024 |
Ends: |
31 May 2027 |
Value (£): |
491,259
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Acoustics |
Instrumentation Eng. & Dev. |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Cancer claims the lives of over 450 UK citizens every single day. The best outcomes in patients are seen
when early detection of cancerous material is achieved to enable swift delivery of appropriate treatment
modalities. To achieve this, additional approaches to enable the assessment of cellular properties that
can differentiate tumour cell from normal healthy cells would be of significant value to cancer detection at
earlier stages than those currently detectable today.
In particular, the elasticity of cancer cells and healthy cells differ, though the extent of the differences
between cell types is not well understood . The heterogeneity of stiffness within tumours (i.e from the core
to periphery) has been identified in a number of studies. Tumour cells undergoing migration and invasion
are associated with low-stiffness, which is also found in the hypoxia-associated cancer cells. In addition,
high tissue pressure also affects cell stiffness and is inversely correlated to drug delivery, thus impacting the
efficacy of treatments. The recent recognition of the importance of mechanical properties as an indicator of
disease state, coupled with the capability of fibre optics and advanced thin film manufacturing techniques
means that a compact ultrasound probe is now within reach, paving the way for future in-vivo biopsy.
This proposal will develop new instrumentation to measure the mechanical properties of soft matter like
tissues, through the interaction of acoustic interface waves. This novel methodology will enable mechanical
characterisation of a range of materials focusing on cancerous tissue to enable classification of healthy
and disease state.
I will draw upon many years of experience pioneering spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy, which
has been very successful in characterising hard engineering materials (leading to 10 publications and 1
patent), to develop a new instrument that can be applied to soft materials. This instrument will exploit an
engineered device that can generate an acoustic wave at the interface between the device and the sample
and simultaneously detect the velocity of the generated wave.
Critically, the method proposed here overcomes a longstanding issue of attenuation in interface wave
devices as the generation and detection occur in the same spatial location so long propagation distances
are avoided. The novel transducer substrates enable a suite of deployment options, for instance, I'll be
able to use these on a microscope or build them on an optical fibre. In the future it will be possible to
embed these sensors in scalpels and small finger probes. The flexibility allows measurements to span a
wide range of length scales - from microns to millimetres - opening a wide range of application areas to
target.
Bio-mechanics are known to play an important role in cancer and the development of tumours. The
proposed technology will enable the observation of single cells and groups of cells through to probing
macroscale tissue and tumours. We will study a range of healthy and cancerous cell lines to determine the
variation in the elastic properties of the cell, the influence of therapeutic drugs and how the cells change
depending on their environment.
This tool will initially be very valuable as a discovery tool in bio-medical research as it will allow new
research avenues in bio-mechanical characterisation. The fibre optic nature of the device means that the
future route to in vivo diagnostics is simplified allowing faster adoption of the technique.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk |