MSU Researchers Combine Nanomedicine and AI to Detect Disease Biomarkers

Imagine searching for a single person in a crowd of 75,000 fans at Spartan Stadium. Now, consider this task multiplied 100,000 times to understand the challenge scientists face when looking for disease markers, or biomarkers, in the blood. A research team from Michigan State University (MSU), along with scientists from Augusta University, Karolinska Institute, and Stanford University, has taken a groundbreaking step in this complex search using nanomedicine, artificial intelligence (AI), and causal analysis.

Cells affected by disease secrete proteins and other biomolecules into the bloodstream. These proteins offer valuable clues about a patient's health status or disease, and identifying them can significantly advance the development of personalized medical treatments, or precision medicine.

The Breakthrough

Morteza Mahmoudi, an associate professor in the Department of Radiology and the Precision Health Program at MSU, explained the significance of this research. “Human blood plasma contains many different proteins, and the rarest proteins are the ones that contain valuable insights into diseases,” Mahmoudi said. “To magnify information from the less abundant plasma proteins, we introduced small particles — nanoparticles that can’t be seen with the human eye — to plasma samples. Then we harnessed AI and actual causality to analyze the results. This is how we identify potential biomarkers for metastatic prostate cancer and atherosclerosis.”

Methodology

The team’s innovative approach involves using nanoparticles to interact with plasma proteins, creating a “protein corona.” This method enhances the detection of rare proteins. By combining this with AI and causal analysis, the researchers can identify the specific proteins linked to diseases more effectively.

Potential Implications

Mahmoudi emphasized the potential impact of their discovery. “It’s the first time that nanomedicine, protein corona, AI, and actual causality have been used together to identify a cause for disease,” he said. “We’re excited because this discovery has the potential to advance early detection and develop targeted therapies for prostate cancer and atherosclerosis.”

The research findings were recently published in the Chemical Engineering Journal. MSU researchers Mohammad Ghassemi, Borzoo Bonakdarpour, and Liangliang Sun made significant contributions to this research. Funding sources include the American Heart Association, the U.S. Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program’s Physician Research Award, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Science Foundation.

This breakthrough could lead to more accurate and timely diagnoses, ultimately improving patient outcomes and advancing the field of precision medicine.