In the context of PHIRE, a group of researchers have published a new study in the Advanced Heathcare Materials journal. With the title “Urine-Stable Aptamer-Conjugated Gold Nanorods for the Early Detection of High-Grade Bladder Cancer Residual Disease”, it highlights the potential of urine-stable aptamer for the delivery of a solution to target the residual high-grade bladder cancer disease.
Bladder cancer remains a major health challenge, with many patients facing recurrence and progression of the disease despite current diagnostic methods. The recently published study offers a promising new solution for detecting residual bladder cancer, particularly small lesions that are less than 1 mm in size. These lesions often go undetected with traditional imaging techniques.
The paper introduces a groundbreaking approach using a 34-mer RNA aptamer (a short, single-stranded piece of nucleic acid that can bind to a specific target molecule) which targets the integrin α5β1, a protein expressed by 81% of high-grade bladder cancer cells. The aptamer is conjugated to gold nanorods (GNRs) and used as a contrast agent for photoacoustic imaging, a technique that allows for the precise detection of small cancerous lesions. This solution is particularly noteworthy because it remains stable in urine for up to three hours, providing ample time for detection during medical procedures.
Advantages of using gold nanorods for imaging
The study’s success in using gold nanorods as a contrast agent has several advantages. Not only does this method allow for early detection of cancer lesions, but it also eliminates the need for external solutions to keep the particles suspended in the bladder. This is a significant improvement over previous methods, which often relied on additional solutions to maintain particle suspension. The innovative GNRs@Chit-Apt-Itg system can remain in suspension naturally, providing a more stable and reliable contrast for imaging.
Conducted in the context of PHIRE, the research presents a groundbreaking, cost-effective solution for the early detection of bladder cancer, particularly focusing on small lesions that are often missed by traditional diagnostic methods. By combining aptamer–based targeting with gold nanorods as a contrast agent for photoacoustic imaging, it provides a highly precise and reproducible tool for detecting bladder cancer at an early stage. Furthermore, the ability to deliver targeted therapies to cancer cells could revolutionise the way bladder cancer is treated, offering patients more personalised and less invasive treatment options.
