Cell inspection

A new ultrasonic nanotechnology that could allow scientists to see inside a patient’s individual cells to help diagnose serious illnesses is being developed by researchers at the

.

The new technique would use ultrasound technology - more commonly used to look at whole bodies such as foetal scanners - to look inside cells. The researchers said the components of the new technology would be several thousand times smaller than current systems.

Ideally it would be tiny enough to allow scientists to see inside and image individual cells in the human body, which would further the understanding of the structure and function of cells and could help to detect abnormalities to diagnose serious illnesses such as some cancers.

The work, which is being conducted by the university’s ultrasonics group in the division of electrical systems and optics, has received an £850,000 five-year grant by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).