IBM scientists have been working on a piece of medical technology that could change the game of diagnostics. That is, it could help in the smallest house-to-house scale as well as for larger more life-threatening diseases.
According to Engadget, this may all be possible because IBM has made a breakthrough in nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement (DLD). DLD is a method that separates viruses and the like from DNA in fluid samples. The elements are separated as such because of a filter, which is made up of tiny pillars. These pillars, which vary in size, are what actually separate the elements from one another. Prior to recent discoveries, the practice was only used on a relatively large scale, like for the separation of parasites.
IBM's breakthrough is that the company has applied this method on the nanometer scale, from 10 to 110. As such, elements as small as exosomes, like viruses, can be targeted.
Though the study is still in its infancy stages, IBM believes the technology will one day lead to great things. One possibility of which, are home diagnostic tools.
In the bigger picture, the nanoscale DLD can also target markers that are associated with potential cancers. Theoretically, seeing these markets in the early stages will allow doctors to quickly remedy the situation and put a stop to it as early as possible.
As Nanowerk notes, IBS is working together with scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Together, these two groups will test the method first on determining prostate cancer. Currently, prostate cancer is the most common in men in the US.
According to Gustavo Stolovitzky, Program Director of Translational Systems Biology and Nanobiotechnology at IBM Research, "The ability to sort and enrich biomarkers at the nanoscale in chip-based technologies opens the door to understanding diseases such as cancer as well as viruses like the flu or Zika." He also said that "This extra amount of time could allow physicians to make more informed decisions and when the prognosis for treatment options is most positive."
