Tiny particles – known as nanoparticles – capable of reaching the most remote areas of the body and, when activated by ultrasound, providing clearer and more detailed imaging of tissues. That’s the breakthrough achieved by the Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), which could mark a major step forward in the accuracy of delicate medical diagnostics.
“My research group specializes in nanoparticles and their biomedical applications,” explains Valentina Cauda, professor at DISAT. “We’ve developed certain nanoparticles that are biomimetic — meaning they’re non-toxic and not harmful to tissue cells. As a result, they don’t trigger immune responses or adverse effects when they come into contact with the body.” According to Cauda, these particles show promise as effective contrast agents for ultrasound imaging.
When these nanoparticles are present in tissues during imaging diagnostics, they produce significantly higher image contrast. This enhanced contrast allows for better visualization of tissue structures and helps pinpoint diseased areas more accurately – as the nanoparticles are able to bind specifically to diseased cells. This represents a significant advancement in the field of medical diagnostics.
“So far, we’ve tested our nanoparticles in ex vivo tissues, and they’ve proven to be effective contrast agents for ultrasound, enabling clearer imaging and better identification of pathological areas,” adds Professor Cauda. While there are already contrast agents in use – such as microbubbles – these are significantly larger and can only travel within blood vessels. Due to their micrometric size, they can’t penetrate deeper into tissues like nanoparticles can.
But the findings don’t stop there. The same nanoparticles developed for ultrasound contrast have also shown the ability to emit light – a phenomenon called sonoluminescence – when stimulated by ultrasound waves. “We were able to convert acoustic energy into light,” says Veronica Vighetto, a researcher at DISAT and collaborator on the project. “Although this effect has been known for decades, we were the first to observe it in living cells. We achieved localized light emission that allowed us to visualize cancer cells. Early tests on living cells caused no harm and produced high-contrast optical images.”
The work was carried out in collaboration with INRiM (Italy’s National Institute of Metrology Research in Turin), the PoliToBiomed Lab (a cross-departmental center), and researchers at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. The results were recently published in the scientific journal Ultrasonics Sonochemistry. The method of ultrasound activation for the nanoparticles has been patented in both Italy and Europe, and has already received an innovation award.
Moreover, the nanoparticles developed by the university research group could also serve in targeted cancer therapy thanks to their high versatility. They represent a sort of multifunctional platform that can be fine-tuned to perform both diagnostic imaging and therapeutic delivery — carrying drugs, inhibitors, and anti-cancer agents directly to the affected site.
Key to achieving these results has been Proof of Concept funding, which helps bridge the gap between basic research and market-ready applications. Valentina Cauda’s studies, in particular, benefited from an academic PoC funded under the PNRR NODES Ecosystem – a program focused on digital and sustainable innovation in Northwestern Italy. Its thematic area (Spoke 5) is specifically dedicated to the Health Industry and Silver Economy.
“We now need translational research funding and investments to help us move toward early clinical trials,” concludes Professor Cauda. Beyond funding, partnerships with companies in the biomedical devices sector – as well as those specializing in contrast agents and diagnostic equipment – could play a key role in bringing this technology closer to real-world use.
For more information please contact:
Valentina Cauda, Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT) valentina.cauda@polito.it
