Near IR fluorescent polystyrene/albumin core/shell nanoparticles for specific targeting of colonic neoplasms.

Previous studies have shown that albumin has a high affinity towards tumours, and, as a result, many drug/albumin conjugates, as well as albumin nanoparticles, have been studied as antineoplastic drug carriers. Numerous studies have also shown the high affinity of cyanine dyes for albumin. This work combines the former and the latter for the preparation of NIR fluorescent and photostable nanoparticles as diagnostic biomaterials. Tumour-specific labelling by NIR fluorescent polystyrene/albumin core/shell nanoparticles is demonstrated, without the presence of additional targeting moieties, and they possess great potential for clinical applications.