Here's How Butterflies Helped Scientists Detect Cancer

Have you ever wished you could see the world through the eyes of a butterfly? Well, scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have taken a leaf out of nature's book, quite literally!

Drawing inspiration from the Papilio xuthus butterfly, renowned for its extraordinary ability to perceive ultraviolet (UV) light, a team of researchers has conjured up a nifty imaging sensor that lets us peek into the UV spectrum-a realm hidden from our human eyes, Phys.org reported.

Butterfly Eyes

This innovative design incorporates stacked photodiodes and perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) to capture different wavelengths within the UV spectrum.

Remarkably, this imaging technology demonstrates an impressive ability to distinguish between cancer cells and normal cells with a confidence level of 99% by leveraging the spectral signatures of vital biomedical markers, such as amino acids.

This research was led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign electrical and computer engineering professor Viktor Gruev and bioengineering professor Shuming Nie.

Gruev said that the concept was sparked by the remarkable UV perception of butterflies, who discern various regions within the UV spectrum, allowing them to detect nuances imperceptible to humans.

Unlike humans, whose vision is based on trichromatic principles, butterflies possess compound eyes, boasting six or more classes of photoreceptors with unique spectral sensitivities. This intricate visual system allows them to appreciate a broader spectrum of colors and details in their surroundings.

To replicate the UV detection abilities observed in the Papilio xuthus butterfly, the researchers integrated a thin layer of perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) with a structured arrangement of silicon photodiodes.

These PNCs, falling under the category of semiconductor nanocrystals, share characteristics with quantum dots, endowing them with a heightened sensitivity to UV wavelengths compared to conventional silicon detectors.

As UV photons interact with the PNC layer, they respond by emitting visible light in the green spectrum. The layered silicon photodiodes then capture this emitted light. By processing these gathered signals, a comprehensive map of UV signatures is generated, enabling precise identification, according to the team.

Potential Applications

This groundbreaking technology is poised to transcend medical applications. In addition to enabling the differentiation of cancerous and healthy cells with remarkable precision, it opens avenues for researchers to explore many species beyond butterflies that possess UV vision.

It could also shed light on various aspects of their behavior, including hunting and mating habits. Furthermore, deploying this sensor underwater promises to enhance our understanding of aquatic environments, as many marine species also utilize and perceive UV light despite significant absorption by water.

"This new imaging technology is enabling us to differentiate cancerous versus healthy cells and is opening up new and exciting applications beyond just health," Nie said in a statement.

The findings of the research team were published in the journal Science Advances.