Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a novel technique using Morpho butterfly wing nanostructures to assess fibrosis in cancer biopsies, potentially improving diagnostic accessibility in resource-limited settings.
Cancer diagnosis relies heavily on accurate assessment of tissue samples, with fibrosis – the accumulation of fibrous tissue – serving as a key indicator of disease progression. Now, an innovative approach utilising structures found on butterfly wings could make this crucial diagnostic step more accessible worldwide.
Background
Fibrosis represents a significant marker in cancer progression, with the extent of fibrous tissue accumulation often correlating with disease staging. Traditional diagnostic methods rely on chemical staining of biopsy samples, which can introduce subjectivity into interpretations. While advanced imaging techniques offer improved objectivity, they typically require expensive equipment that remains inaccessible to many healthcare facilities, particularly in resource-limited regions.
The research, published in the journal Advanced Materials on 15 January 2025, demonstrates how the micro-and nanostructures found on Morpho butterfly wings can be repurposed to enhance cancer tissue analysis using standard optical microscopes.
Methodology
The technique’s elegance lies in its simplicity. By placing a cancer biopsy sample directly onto a section of Morpho butterfly wing and viewing it under a standard microscope, researchers can assess collagen fibre density and organisation – critical indicators of cancer staging.
“We can apply this technique using standard optical microscopes that clinics already have,” said study senior author Lisa Poulikakos, a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. “And it’s more objective and quantitative than what is currently available.”
The inspiration for this approach came from Paula Kirya, a mechanical engineering graduate student and the study’s first author, who had previously studied the optical properties of Morpho butterfly wings.
“I had been imaging butterfly wings, studying how they react to different environments,” Kirya explained. “And when I saw what the lab was doing, I thought, ‘The Morpho naturally has this property – why not use it?’”
Scientific principle
The technique exploits a natural phenomenon. The wing’s micro-and nanostructures interact strongly with polarised light – light that propagates in a specific direction. Collagen fibres in tissue samples also interact with polarised light, but their signals are typically weak.
The researchers found that placing a biopsy sample above a Morpho butterfly wing segment amplifies these signals, making it easier to detect and analyse the density and arrangement of collagen fibres within the tissue.
To quantify these observations, the team David Baillot/UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering developed a mathematical model based on Jones calculus, a method for analysing polarised light. This model correlates light intensity with collagen fibre density and organisation, providing an objective metric for assessing fibrosis.
Clinical validation
The research team tested their approach on human breast cancer biopsy samples, comparing the results with those obtained through conventional staining methods and advanced imaging techniques.
The samples were provided by study collaborators Jing Yang, a professor in the Departments of Pharmacology and Pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine and co-leader of the Cancer Biology and Signaling Program at Moores Cancer Center, and Aida Mestre-Farrera, a postdoctoral scientist in Yang’s group.
Results demonstrated comparable accuracy to these established methods, validating the butterfly wing technique as a viable alternative.
“Essentially, we’re trying to expand on these procedures with a stain-free alternative that requires nothing more than a standard optical microscope and a piece of a Morpho wing,” said Kirya. “In many parts of the world, early cancer screening is a challenge because of resource limitations. If we can provide a simpler and more accessible tool, we can help more patients get diagnosed before their cancers reach aggressive stages.”
Future applications
While the current research focused specifically on breast cancer samples, the technique’s potential extends far beyond this single application. The researchers believe their method could be applied to various fibrotic diseases, offering a simpler and more cost-effective diagnostic approach across multiple medical conditions.
“We’re excited to leverage this technique for all kinds of tissue diagnostics,” said Poulikakos. “It was really surprising to see how well nature had already designed a solution via the Morpho butterfly wing and its natural micro-and nanostructures. Our work shows that nature has given us something that can help us image diseased tissues without the need for expensive fabrication facilities.”
This research highlights a growing trend in biomimicry – the practice of emulating nature’s designs and processes to solve human problems. In this case, the iridescent blue wings of the Morpho butterfly, which achieve their colour not through pigmentation but through complex light-manipulating structures, have provided a template for enhanced medical imaging.
For clinicians working in settings with limited resources, this approach could represent a significant advancement in diagnostic capabilities, potentially enabling earlier detection and intervention for cancer patients worldwide.
The technique’s reliance on readily available equipment – standard optical microscopes – combined with the relatively simple addition of butterfly wing material, positions it as a practical solution for improving cancer diagnostics in diverse healthcare settings.
Reference:
Kirya, P., Mestre-Farrera, A., Yang, J., et. al. (2025). Leveraging Optical Anisotropy of the Morpho Butterfly Wing for Quantitative, Stain-Free, and Contact-Free Assessment of Biological Tissue Microstructures. Advanced Materials, 37(3).
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202407728
