We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Gold Nanoparticles to Improve Accuracy of Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 11 Sep 2025

Ovarian cancer is considered one of the deadliest cancers, in part because it rarely shows clear symptoms in its early stages, and diagnosis is often complex. More...

Current approaches make it difficult to accurately triage women with ovarian cancer compared to benign conditions, and often require painful, invasive procedures such as tissue biopsies. Researchers have now developed a new nanoparticle-based approach that can highlight ovarian cancer markers more accurately than current diagnostic tools.

A project led by The University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia) and collaborators has led to the development of a technology that uses sponge-like mesoporous gold nanoparticles to improve cancer diagnostics through their unique biosensing properties. These structures act as light amplifiers, revealing even the faintest traces of cancer markers in patient samples such as urine, saliva, or blood.

Researchers boosted the sensitivity of gold-enhanced light sensors using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). Compared with commercially available nanoparticles, mesoporous gold increased sensitivity significantly, enabling tiny "hotspots" of light to amplify biomarker signals. Embedded into a diagnostic process with a small tube and handheld Raman spectrophotometer, the method has already outperformed current blood tests, achieving 82% sensitivity in confirming ovarian cancer and 98% specificity in ruling it out. The research was published in the nanoscience and nanotechnology journal Small.

The portability, affordability, and simplicity of this sensor technology make it especially promising for women in remote or under-resourced regions. By transforming disease monitoring, mesoporous nanotechnologies could reduce unnecessary procedures and help pave the way for more personalized treatment strategies. With further development, devices like this could move closer to everyday clinical use, improving survival rates through earlier and more accurate detection.

“This project demonstrates how mesoporous nanotechnologies can help us transform disease monitoring and pave the way for personalized treatment strategies,” said Javeria Bashir, nanomaterials researcher at The University of Queensland and lead developer of the technology. “Devices like this are moving closer and closer to everyday use.”

Related Links:
The University of Queensland


Gold Member
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Test
OSOM® RSV Test
Portable Electronic Pipette
Mini 96
Sample Transportation System
Tempus1800 Necto
Gold Member
Hematology Analyzer
Medonic M32B
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The new method can contribute to earlier detection of cirrhosis and liver cancer (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Simple Test Predicts Risk of Severe Liver Disease

Severe liver diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer are becoming increasingly common and often carry a poor prognosis when detected late. Current screening tools are limited in their ability to identify... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: New evidence shows viscoelastic testing can improve assessment of blood clotting during postpartum hemorrhage (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Viscoelastic Testing Could Improve Treatment of Maternal Hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage, severe bleeding after childbirth, remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide, yet many of these deaths are preventable. Standard care can be hindered by delays... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: Automated cell imaging discriminates CD8+ T cells according to natalizumab treatment outcome in MS patients (B Chaves et al., Nat Commun 16, 5533 (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60224-3)

Novel Tool Predicts Most Effective Multiple Sclerosis Medication for Patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune and degenerative neurological disease that affects the central nervous system, leading to motor, cognitive, and mental impairments. Symptoms can include... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The SWITCH hybrid pipette is designed to simplify and accelerate pipetting tasks (Photo courtesy of INTEGRA)

Hybrid Pipette Combines Manual Control with Fast Electronic Aliquoting

Manual pipettes offer the control needed for delicate tasks such as mixing or supernatant removal, but typically fall short in repetitive workflows like aliquoting. Electronic pipettes solve this problem... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.