Google is in the process of developing tiny magnetic particles that can detect cancer and other health problems by traveling through a person’s blood stream. These particles can be directed to different parts of the body by applying wearable devices to the skin. The device will then compile the particles and access whether there is a possible health risk to be concerned about.

Nanoparticles are the nexus between biology and engineering,” Conrad said in an interview at the conference, which was also excerpted in a video. “We can make these nanoparticles behave in ways that we want them to do.”

The particles come in a form of pills that are covered with molecules that can detect other molecules and attach themselves to proteins, cells and other molecules in the body. According to Conrad, this technology may even replace standard blood tests. The particles will also allow information about the patient’s state to be sent to doctors through the Internet and will allow them to monitor the patient’s health consistently, rather than episodically.Conrad states “there is a lot of evidence” that these nanoparticles are safe and that similar particles are already used in some medicines available today and are expelled from the body through urine.

Google is actively looking for partners on this project. According to the Wall Street Journal, the implementation of the particles may take more than five years. Additionally, this is not Google’s only initiative in the medical industry. Earlier this year, Google announced that it is testing new contact lenses for people for people with diabetes that can test glucose levels.

Read more here – “Google’s Working on a Nanoparticle-Covered Pill that Can Detect Cancer,” (Tim Hornyak, PCWorld).