Orenburg state university

Molecules Luminescence in the Fight against Oncology

OSU scientists are developing diagnostic method of cancer in early stages. The project became winner of competition for receiving of Russian Federation President’s grant for young scientists.

Senior researcher of instrumental equipment's common center “Institute of micro- and nanotechnologies”, associate professor of OSU Heat and Gas Supply, Ventilation and Hydromechanics Department — Valeriya Maryakhina studies interaction between natural or artificial-synthesized materials — photosensitizers — with cells with aim to find out tissues affected by pathological process. Such materials are sensitive to light and react in different ways. Laser and other kinds of emission with application of modern equipment are used in the project what allows studying interaction between light of different frequency and biological objects.

— Such substance as Bengal pink colorant permeating into cells can be used for early cancer diagnosis. Signal of colorant fluorescence is registered after laser illumination of colored healthy and tumoral tissues. We can determine if the cell is healthy or tumoral by the difference of signals. We don’t treat malignant tumors, but we can help doctors detect oncology disease in prospect, — Valeriya Maryakhina told.