Scientists have developed an ultra-sensitive Raman imaging system that identifies cancerous tissue by detecting faint light signals from nanoparticles bound to tumor markers. This technology, far more sensitive than current tools, could accelerate cancer screening and enable earlier detection. Led by researchers at Michigan State University, the system promises to bring advanced imaging into clinical practice.
A team at Michigan State University's Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering has created a compact Raman imaging system capable of distinguishing cancerous from healthy tissue. The innovation relies on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticles engineered to attach to tumor markers, such as the CD44 protein on cancer cells. These nanoparticles amplify weak Raman signals, which the system detects to highlight potential tumor areas automatically.
Traditional cancer diagnosis involves time-consuming staining and pathologist review, but this tool offers a faster alternative. "Traditional methods for cancer-related diagnosis are time-consuming and labor-intensive because they require staining tissue samples and having a pathologist look for any abnormalities," explained Zhen Qiu, the research team leader. "While our system would not immediately replace pathology, it could serve as a rapid screening tool to accelerate diagnosis."
Published in Optica on December 23, 2025, the study demonstrates the system's ability to detect Raman signals four times weaker than those of comparable commercial systems. It combines a swept-source laser, which varies wavelengths during analysis, with a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) that captures individual light particles with minimal noise. This setup achieves femtomolar sensitivity in nanoparticle solutions and provides strong contrast in tests on breast cancer cells, mouse tumors, and healthy tissues.
"The SERS signals were strongly concentrated in tumor samples, with only minimal background detected in healthy tissue," Qiu noted. The fiber-coupled, compact design supports potential miniaturization for portable or intraoperative use, improving biopsy accuracy and monitoring disease progression noninvasively.
Future work includes boosting readout speed with faster lasers like VCSELs, expanding validation, and enabling multiplexing for multiple biomarkers. The researchers collaborated with Quantum Opus for the SNSPD devices. By adapting targeting molecules, the method could apply to various cancer types, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes through quicker detection and treatment.
