Bio-use sensors —Cancer diagnosis using C. elegans scent detection—

Abstract

Chemical/physical technique has been used for the detection of a very small amount of odorants, but it has a problem that pursuing high sensitivity and selectivity causes upsizing and high costs. Therefore, in late years, the bio sensors which are based on the high sensitive and selective nature of olfactory systems of organisms attract attention. They includes bio-mimic and bio-inspired sensors. Here I introduce the bio-use sensor which employs animals themselves as sensors. Recently, it was reported nematode C. elegans can discriminate the smell of cancer with high accuracy. The cancer diagnosis technology using C. elegans scent detection (n-nose) is high accurate, low cost, noninvasive and easy, and can detect an early cancer. n-nose has the possibility to change a conventional cancer diagnosis system.