Edward Flynn, the chief scientist of Senior Scien

Edward Flynn, the chief scientist of Senior Scientific LLC, a subsidiary of Manhattan Scientifics, has developed a technology called magnetic relaxometry that uses detectors called superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) that can measure the magnetic fields of tiny, biosafe, iron-oxide spheres called nanoparticles—100,000 times smaller than the thickness of a sheet of paper—that are injected into the body.

The iron-oxide nanoparticles, called PrecisionMRX™ and having precisely determined sizes, are conjugated (i.e., attached) to cells carrying specific antibodies that can bind with cancer cells. The nanoparticles were developed with the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies at Sandia National Laboratories to create precise particle sizes and uniform properties. Preclinical toxicity and safety studies are underway, with results expected in six to nine months on the safety of the particles’ proprietary coating.

Once the instrument—which, when built, will be just big enough to fit a person inside—generates a magnetic field, all the nanoparticles line up in one direction. When the magnetic field is turned off, the particles emit magnetic fields as they “relax” back into their original state. Only the particles stuck to cancer cells decay at the correct speed and are detected. By measuring the signal strength, doctors can tell how many particles are involved—and this information can be used to deduce how many cancer cells are present. It takes only a few minutes to locate and quantify cancer cells based on the nanoparticles bound to them. A preclinical version of the instrument is in regular use at small animal imaging facility at the University of Texas’ MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Flynn is initially targeting early breast, ovarian and prostate cancer detection as a goal for his company’s work. For example, in breast cancer, the gold standard is a mammogram, which requires 100 million cancer cells for detection. Flynn’s sensor system is being designed to allow radiologists and oncologists to detect the presence of significantly smaller numbers of cancer cells than a mammogram or ultrasound is capable of detecting.

Using an animal model in which human breast cancer tumors are grown, Flynn’s test has shown in early studies the ability to detect breast cancers with known antibodies with good localization. A study performed by Senior Scientific in tandem with the MD Anderson Cancer Center concluded that the technique was capable of detecting the presence of as little as 1,000 ovarian cancer cells and able to successfully detect ovarian tumors in vivo.

Research continues to progress rapidly in this field. Looking toward the future, it is Manhattan Scientifics’ goal to bring its work in the field of cancer detection to the medical community.