Speeding up diagnostics - Entangled photon pairs to help fighting cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death and the most feared disease in aging Western societies, representing the greatest challenge to modern medicine. Since cancer cannot be prevented, early and differentiated detection is extremely important for rapid intervention and cure.

One important challenge in clinical cancer diagnostics is the need for rapid analysis of patient tissue sections. This can be addressed by shortening the preparation time due to the large number of sections to be examined, preferably without the need for staining ("label‐free"), combined with a short measurement time to allow detecting tumor cells with highest reliability. Under laboratory conditions, midinfrared radiation (MIR) has already been successfully used for this purpose, but current measurement times are far too long for rapid diagnostics, so that validation and regular use in hospitals is not possible today. Transferring the MIR approach to clinical diagnostics is an open challenge: MIR light still poses high technical requirements both for its generation and for its detection application.

In the new Quantum‐Enhanced Early Diagnostics project (QEED), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the program quantum technologies – from basic research to market, ten partners from research and industry combine their expertise in this novel approach to quickly detect and fight cancer. Scientists from the Berlin-based Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH) will realize the required high-power diode laser sources emitting at 1170 nm and 720 nm in a Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA) configuration. The MOPAs will then be integrated into an inhouse developed novel technology platform. These quantum light modules will finally be assembled jointly with components from the project partners by FBH’s Prototype Engineering Lab into the QEED system.

Significantly reduced measurement times and enhanced reliability

The project aims to transfer measurement information from the clinically relevant mid‐infrared (MIR) to the well‐detectable near‐infrared (NIR) spectral range by developing a novel spectrally resolved imaging technique relying on entangled photon pairs. Based on quantum sensor technology, the QEED microscopy method will enable label‐free examination of tissue samples and is expected to reduce the measurement time for a 10‐megapixel image to just two minutes. Simple preparation combined with fast measurement enables high sample throughput and thus, for the first time, integration into clinical workflows. Patients will benefit from this development, as biopsy samples will be able to be diagnosed more quickly and reliably in the future. In addition, this approach will help to minimize the proportion of false‐negative and false‐positive results, which according to Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum are associated with high levels of psychological distress, and thus increase the willingness of patients to take advantage of screening.

On the basis of innovative ultra‐bright photon pair sources and their adapted measurement and analysis, different demonstrators are planned – for scientific (biomedical) research and with an integrated fluorescence unit for automated pathology in clinical routine. In addition, all novel modules for the QEED system will be further developed as independent components to create stand‐alone products.

A network of business and science

Business meets science in the Airport Region Berlin Brandenburg. Here companies find a first-class university and institute-related research base and an environment in which scientific institutions and technology-oriented companies work hand in hand. In other words, the best conditions for developing marketable products out of innovative ideas.

For further information about the growth industries, economic development, business and technology support for companies, investors and scientific institutions in the Airport Region Berlin Brandenburg please contact:

Melanie Gartzke I melanie.gartzke(at)airport-region.de

Press release February 27,2023; “Speeding up diagnostics! Entangled photon pairs to help fighting cancer”, Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH)