Google Develops Skin to Detect Cancer

Google researchers recently unveiled a project to develop a wristband that can detect cancer cells when they first appear in circulating blood. As part of the project, researchers created dummy arms with synthetic human skin to help test the device's effectiveness. Specifically, they are trying to determine how the Fitbit-like device would interact with nanoparticles that attach to cancer cells.

Dr. Andrew Conrad, head of Google Life Sciences, explained in an interview with The Atlantic that the wristband system would involve swallowing a pill containing nanoparticles with specific markers that attach to cancer cells. When cancer cells bind to the nanoparticles, they fluoresce, or light up. As they circulate through veins in the wrist (where blood vessels are closer to the surface), the clumps of fluoresced cancer cells would be attracted to wristband magnetically, and would be visible through the skin.

Nanoparticles employed in this technology are to use light sighnals to communicate with the wristband through superficial veins in the wrist. Therefore, to test the device, Google scientists have developed artificial skin that factors in a range of skin types and colors. Fake arms that the scientists have created autoflurescence and biochemical components of the real arms.

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