Breakthrough in Cancer Gene Therapy: Researchers Develop Innovative Nanoprobe for Colon Cancer Treatment

Strategic Insights -

Scientists at Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital have made a significant discovery in the field of cancer gene therapy, developing a novel nanoprobe for colon cancer treatment. The researchers created a lipophilic NIR-II-fluorescence membrane probe (BMP1-2) that can effectively label lipid-bilayer structured nanovectors (LBSNs) composed of immunogenic probiotic outer membrane vesicles and cellular nanovesicles over-expressing anti-PD-L1 scFv. This innovative probe allows for rapid biodistribution tracing, colon cancer diagnosis, and molecular imaging of tumoral microenvironments.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers at Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital developed a novel NIR-II-fluorescence membrane probe (BMP1-2) for labeling lipid-bilayer structured nanovectors (LBSNs) in colon cancer treatment.
  • The probe exhibits significant photothermal conversion capability, good photostability, and balanced lipophilicity, making it suitable for wash-free imaging.
  • BMP1@Hybrid, a hybrid of the probe and LBSNs, can efficiently target tumors, facilitating biodistribution tracing and colon cancer diagnosis.
  • The study demonstrates the potential of nano-enabled targeting strategies for precise cancer theranostics.
  • Authors of the study include Ziwei Hu, Chen Yu, Genwen Hu, Qingyun Jia, Yuchen Xiao, Haroon Ahmad, Daoming Zhang, Zonglin Liu, Muhammad Sohaib Iqbal, Wenjun Zeng, Qi Chen, Qingqin Tan, and Bing Guo.
  • The study provides a new strategy for NIR-II fluorescence membrane probes in cancer theranostics, with potential applications in the treatment of colon cancer.

Statistics:

  • The researchers obtained a photothermal conversion ratio of 115 for BMP1@Hybrid, demonstrating its ultrahigh ON/OFF ratio.
  • The imaging process was completed in 2 minutes under mechanical stirring, indicating the probe's rapid staining ability on LBSNs.
  • The study demonstrates the potential of nano-enabled targeting strategies for precise cancer theranostics, offering new hope for colon cancer treatment.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Researchers at Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital Report Findings in Cancer Gene Therapy (NIR-II fluorescence membrane probes for rapidly labelling hybrid of probiotic outer membrane vesicles and anti-PD-L1 scFv over-expressing cellular vesicles with ...). Cancer Weekly. October 28, 2025; p 59.
  • Biomaterials. "NIR-II fluorescence membrane probes for rapidly labelling hybrid of probiotic outer membrane vesicles and anti-PD-L1 scFv over-expressing cellular vesicles with targeted photothermal-immunotherapy of colon cancer." Biomaterials, 2025;327:123770.