Engineered nanoparticles for the uptake and imaging of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the UK, with 100 people diagnosed every day. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for colorectal cancer with around 30,000 operations performed each year in the NHS. Around 50% of patients will be cured by surgery, but 10-15% will develop locoregional disease recurrence due to failure to achieve complete oncological clearance. To address this, we aim to develop a fluorescent theranostic nanoparticle that aids cancer diagnosis for precision surgery, with additional functionality to ablate microscopic residual disease in the surgical field by virtue of a photoactive payload. The organic nanoparticles possess inherent fluorescence properties in the near IR region compatible with optimal tissue penetration and a photosensitiser that can be activated by a laparoscopic light source. Conjugation of an antigen recognition molecule, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) Affimer, will bestow additional cancer-specific targeting, enhancing its diagnostic and therapeutic capability.