Near-Infrared Fluorescent Endoscopic Image-Guided Photothermal Ablation Therapy of Colorectal Cancer Using Dual-Modal Gold Nanorods Targeting Tumor-Infiltrating Innate Immune Cells in a Transgenic TS4 CRE/APC loxΔ468 Mouse Model.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is diagnosed with colonoscopy and treated with focal therapies, thus CRC is a good candidate for nanoparticles-mediated photothermal ablation therapy (PTA). Herein, we developed a near infrared fluorescent (NIRF) endoscopic image guided PTA approach using a nanoparticle capable of simultaneously diagnosing and treating CRC. Dual-modal NIR heating and fluorescent gold nanorods (dual-modal GNRs) were synthesized by conjugation of GNRs to a NIRF probe. To validate the translational potential of our approach, a well characterized transgenic TS4 CRE/APC colon cancer mouse model was used to carry out NIRF image-guided PTA using our dual-modal GNRs under clinically relevant conditions. IV infused dual-modal GNRs were effectively targeted to colon polyps by immunogenic capturing of the GNRs within tumor infiltrating innate immune cells. NIRF endoscopic image guided PTA using the GNRs permitted successful detection and ablation of inflammatory colon polyps. NIRF endoscopy image guided PTA using dual-modal GNRs can be utilized for diagnosis and treatment of CRC and various inflammatory diseases.