Reviewed by Lexie CornerApr 15 2025
In a study published in ACS Nano, researchers from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Otago - Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM) and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect alterations in cancer cells at a microscopic scale.
From left, Simon Guan, Peter Mei, Dawn Coates, and Richard Cannon have pioneered the development of an innovative method of oral cancer detection. Image Credit: University of Otago—Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
The research found that nanotechnologies and AI could enable earlier and more accurate detection of oral cancer.
Associate Professor Peter Mei, the study's senior author, noted that this innovative technique represents a significant advancement in cancer diagnostics.
Combining the two technologies enabled us to detect nanoscale changes on the surface of cancer cells that may not be visible using traditional methods. This enhances the accuracy and reliability of cancer diagnosis, potentially enabling earlier detection, which is critical for improving patient treatment outcomes and advancing precision medicine.
Peter Mei, Senior Study Author and Associate Professor, University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka
The researchers were motivated to conduct the study due to the need for more reliable cancer detection methods.
In 2022, the World Cancer Research Fund reported over 390,000 new cases of mouth and oral cancer globally, resulting in more than 188,000 deaths.
The lead author, Dr. Simon Guan, hopes this diagnostic method will become more widely used, as it could become a valuable tool for clinicians.
“We would like to see efforts to make AFM technology more suitable for routine clinical testing. We hope it will lead to quicker, more accurate cancer diagnoses for a variety of cancers and better treatment options for patients. Furthermore, our findings may pave the way for a new cancer therapy based on the nanophysical properties of cancer cells,” he added.
Associate Professor Mei emphasized the importance of innovation and collaboration across disciplines such as dentistry, nanoscience, and artificial intelligence.
Mei added, “Bringing together expertise from various disciplines can lead to groundbreaking discoveries that can improve health outcomes for people worldwide. This research shows how innovation in science can lead to better healthcare, particularly for detecting and treating cancer more effectively.”
The project was funded by a University of Otago Research Grant, the New Zealand Dental Research Foundation, the Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust, the Sir John Walsh Research Institute P.h.D Research Grant, and Otago's research facilities at the Faculty of Dentistry and the Otago Micro and Nanoscale Imaging Centre.
Journal Reference:
Guan, G., et al. (2025) Atomic Force Microscopy for Revealing Oncological Nanomechanobiology and Thermodynamics. ACS Nano. doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c14837.