Twisted Light Breakthrough Could Enable Earlier Disease Detection
Researchers from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs (COMBS) developed a new method using twisted light to detect tiny changes in biological fluids like blood with unprecedented precision, potentially enabling earlier disease diagnosis. The team, including Adelaide University, RMIT University, and the University of St Andrews (UK), achieved 1000 times greater accuracy than existing techniques by analyzing speckle patterns in light, testing the system on sugar solutions and hemoglobin samples.
A team of researchers from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science (COMBS) has developed a groundbreaking technique to measure minute changes in biological fluids using twisted light. Led by scientists at Adelaide University, RMIT University, and the University of St Andrews (UK), the method leverages light beams that spiral like a corkscrew, granting them orbital angular momentum—a property that allows precise sensing of material properties. The breakthrough involves a tiny chip combining microscopic spiral phase plates with a microfluidic channel to control minuscule liquid samples, as small as a millionth of a drop. Previous challenges in measuring the twist of light have been overcome by decoding speckle patterns—grainy interference patterns formed when light scatters through materials. This new approach achieves up to 1000 times greater precision than existing methods, enabling detection of previously invisible changes. The researchers demonstrated the system’s potential by measuring the refractive index of liquids with better than one part per million accuracy using tiny samples. Tests on sugar solutions and hemoglobin—a key blood component—highlighted its ability to analyze biologically relevant samples, paving the way for advanced medical diagnostics. The findings were published in *Nature Communications*, with Professor Kishan Dholakia, Director of Adelaide University’s Centre for Light for Life, calling the work a step toward real-world applications. Dr. Chris Perrella, the study’s first author, emphasized the technology’s potential for faster, earlier disease detection using only a drop of blood. Unlike existing methods requiring larger samples or complex equipment, this approach offers higher sensitivity and real-time, multi-point measurements. Future versions could integrate optical frequency combs—laser systems generating multiple light wavelengths—to enable rapid analysis of complex biological samples. The innovation could lead to next-generation point-of-care testing devices, allowing clinicians to analyze fluids quickly with minimal samples. Professor Dholakia noted the research bridges advanced optical physics with practical technologies, bringing high-precision sensing closer to widespread use in diagnostics, food safety, and manufacturing.
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