Aston University’s Professor Igor Meglinski led the team that has developed a new method of analysing crystals in dehydrated blood. Their paper “Insights into polycrystalline microstructure of blood films with 3D Mueller matrix imaging approach” has been published in Scientific Reports.
Professor Meglinski from the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies used a new polarisation-based image reconstruction technique to analyse polycrystalline structures in dried blood samples.
The proteins in blood change their shape and how they fit together during the early stages of diseases like cancer.
Professor Meglinski and his team used changes in the proteins' unique 3D shape together with its quaternary structure - which is how multiple proteins join together - to detect and classify cells.
This technique enabled the researchers to conduct a layer-by-layer analysis of dry blood smears, which Aston said is crucial for identifying significant differences between healthy and cancerous samples. The researchers analysed 108 blood film samples from three groups, namely healthy volunteers, those who had prostate cancer, and a third group who had the illness and had cells that were more likely to spread aggressively.
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In a statement, Professor Meglinski said: "Our study introduces a pioneering technique to the liquid biopsy domain, aligning with the ongoing quest for non-invasive, reliable and efficient diagnostic methods. “A key advancement in our study is the characterisation of the mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis of distributions with the cells which is crucial for identifying significant differences between healthy and cancerous samples.
"This breakthrough opens new avenues for cancer diagnosis and monitoring, representing a substantial leap forward in personalised medicine and oncology."
The study's findings are said to have had a 90 per cent accuracy rate of early diagnosis and classification of cancer, which is much higher than existing screening methods. Also, as the technique relies on blood samples instead of tissue biopsies, it is less traumatic and risky for patients.
Professor Meglinski said: “This high level of precision, combined with the non-invasive nature of the technique, marks a significant advancement in liquid biopsy technology.
“It holds immense potential for revolutionising cancer diagnosis, early detection, patient stratification and monitoring, thereby greatly enhancing patient care and treatment outcomes.
“This study also presents a testament to the resilience and support of our Ukrainian colleagues involved in the research, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.”
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