DNA Nanosensors for Metal Ion Cancer Biomarkers

Cancer is a major cause of death with an estimated economic impact of £7.6bn per year in the UK alone. The earlier cancers are diagnosed the more successful therapies tend to be. We are developing diagnostic solutions for cancer based on programmable DNA nanodevices that are able to detect, amplify and report cancer markers in patient blood. This project will develop DNA nanodevices that detect raised concentrations of metal ions - a possible indicator for cancer onset and progression. This will be achieved through a combination of experimental and computational methods.