Monitoring the immune system using digital nanotechnologies with single-molecule resolution

Molecular changes that happen within the body in response to diseases can occur at extremely low concentrations, which renders their detection difficult. Although detecting trace levels of biomarkers is promising for better understanding and treating many severe diseases including cancer and immune dysregulations, the lack of highly sensitive technologies makes the study of trace biomarkers challenging. Precise tracking of a person’s response to treatment can prevent an “over-dosing” of the drug prescribed, which can lead to sometimes life-threatening side effects. This research is highly multidisciplinary and encompasses the fields of nanotechnology, biology, and medical science, to develop new nano-diagnostic tools to better understand the drivers of long-COVID, auto-immune diseases and cancer. Tools such as SERS nanoparticle synthesis, microfluidic devices and the Immunostorm chip, allow for the ultra-sensitive detection of specific biomarkers. This can open a unique window into many diseases and has the potential to deliver information about the underlying biological mechanisms occurring in patients.