'Smart' nanoprobes light up disease

Quantum dots programmed to glow in presence of enzyme activity

Researchers from Rice University's Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (CBEN) have developed a "smart" beacon hundreds of times smaller than a human cell that is programmed to light up only when activated by specific proteases. Altered expression of particular proteases is a common hallmark of cancer, atherosclerosis, and many other diseases.

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<p><a href="http://www.physorg.com/news5542.html">'Smart' nanoprobes light up disease</a></p> <p><b><i>Quantum dots programmed to glow in presence of enzyme activity</i></b> <br> <br>Researchers from Rice University's Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (CBEN) have developed a "smart" beacon hundreds of times smaller than a human cell that is programmed to light up only when activated by specific proteases. Altered expression of particular proteases is a common hallmark of cancer, atherosclerosis, and many other diseases.</p>