Researchers from Adelaide University’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing and the University of Stuttgart are jointly developing microscopic sensors for the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases like cancer.

According to the team of developers, the microscopic sensors, which were created via ultrafast 3D micro-printing technology, are capable of taking multiple measurements simultaneously.

A fiber-optic probe with 3D micro-printed sensing structures is immersed in a liquid sample, where light-induced emission reveals changes in the chemical environment in real time. Source: Adelaide University

Designed to target specific biomarkers, while at the same time monitoring several signals like temperature and chemical changes, the sensors are printed directly onto the tips of optical fibers.

Setting the team's sensors apart from traditional approaches is that multiple biomarkers can be measured at once, rather than one at a time, thereby making it easier to accurately identify the cause of changes in the body — for instance, distinguishing cancer from other conditions — and providing faster, more precise information to healthcare professionals.

The technology, which has been in development for years, relies on light to detect cancer-related changes in the body at the molecular level.

“Molecules emit light when they come into contact with a by-product of cancer. The amount of light they emit depends on the concentration of the cancer cells. By inserting the sensors into tissue and measuring the amount of light emitted, we believe we can determine the presence of cancer,” the team explained.

The team added that their technology could one day enable advanced sensors that detect and monitor disease in real time with minimal invasiveness, offering clear and reliable data. This technology promises to lead to smarter medical tools, as well as applications in environmental monitoring and wearable devices.

An article detailing the work, “3D Microprinting of Structures with Lanthanide-Based Fluorophores on Optical Fibers for Multiplexed Sensing,” appears in the journal Advanced Optical Materials.