The biochip developed by a research team at the University of New South Wales in Australia filters blood in a device called "cancer dialysis" to identify and remove cancer cells. The original intention of the team to develop this chip was to find a cheaper and less painful cancer diagnosis method.
Team leader Dr. Majid Valkiani stated that 99% of human cancers are solid tumors, and cancer cells circulating in the human peripheral blood (blood other than bone marrow) will transfer with the blood and spread to the body. Other parts. According to the characteristics that cancer cells are larger than healthy cells and have a stronger metabolism, doctors put blood mixed with healthy cells and cancer cells into the biochip. Under the influence of fluid pressure, larger cancer cells and smaller healthy cells are separated Enter different exits and separate successfully.
The chip can also significantly reduce the cost of treatment related to cancer. It is understood that the scanning fee for tumor detection in Australia is about 700 Australian dollars (about 721 SGD), and the cost of using this chip to detect cancer cells in the blood is only 50 Australian dollars to 100 Australian dollars (about 51 SGD to 103 SGD).
In addition, this technology may prolong the lives of cancer patients. Some doctors suggested that if large chips can be made, the blood of cancer patients will be "cleaned" as if they were undergoing kidney dialysis. The blood from which the cancer cells have been separated is returned to the patient's body, which also avoids the immune response caused by the blood transfusion of others. For patients with early cancer, this technology can reduce the probability of cancer metastasis.