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Details of Grant 

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:
McIntyre, Dr A
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
YouCare Technology Co. Ltd (Wuhan)
Department: Faculty of Engineering
Organisation: University of Nottingham
Scheme: New Investigator Award
Starts: 01 June 2024 Ends: 31 May 2027 Value (£): 491,259
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Acoustics Instrumentation Eng. & Dev.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Healthcare
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
05 Sep 2023 Engineering Prioritisation Panel Meeting 5 6 7 September 2023 Announced
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.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
Date Materialised
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk