By combining two distinct techniques, the technology can examine large numbers of cells individually, a feat not previously possible, said Chang Lu, a Purdue University assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering. "We really have bridged the gap between different technologies, allowing us to do science on a whole new level," he said.

In a study published this month in Analytical Chemistry, Lu demonstrated that the technique can detect a handful of protein movements, or translocations, within entire populations of cells. These movements are important to detect because they are involved in many disease processes, such as oncogenesis, wherein a normal cell becomes malignant.