Challenge

Early detection remains one of the most significant challenges in cancer care. Blood-based diagnostics offer a promising route, but reliably identifying cancer-specific signals is complex.

MetaGuideX's approach focuses on extracellular vesicles, which carry molecular markers from their cells of origin. If these can be selectively captured and analysed, they offer a route to detecting multiple carcinoma types - the most common form of cancer - from a single blood sample.

Existing detection methods rely on antibodies to recognise target proteins. Antibodies are biologically derived, however, and present many challenges around stability, reproducibility and manufacturing consistency, requiring cold storage and careful handling. These challenges are a major barrier in accessible early cancer detection.

The team sought to develop a synthetic antibody alternative, using polymer-based nanomaterials to bind to the target proteins. To validate this approach, they needed to demonstrate selective binding at the nanoscale, to confirm that individual particles could reliably capture individual vesicles via surface protein recognition. This level of interaction had not previously been directly observed and required specialist imaging capabilities beyond standard laboratory techniques, such as those at the CLF's LSF.

Approach

Professor Nick Turner from the University of Sheffield worked with MetaGuideX to design molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles that mimic the selective binding behaviour of antibodies, targeting specific protein structures present on extracellular vesicles.

Using advanced microscopy at the the LSF's Octopus imaging cluster, the team investigated interactions between the synthetic nanoparticles and vesicles, both approximately 100 nanometres in size. The experiments were designed to test whether one-to-one binding events could be achieved, providing the foundation for a reliable diagnostic assay.

Close collaboration with LSF scientists was critical in designing and refining the experimental approach, particularly in achieving the spatial resolution and imaging conditions required to observe nanoscale interactions directly.

The resulting data provided direct visual evidence of single-particle binding events, establishing a key proof point for the technology.

Benefits

The project demonstrated that the polymer nanomaterials can replicate the selective recognition typically provided by antibodies, offering a more stable and reproducible alternative for diagnostic applications.

Unlike biological components, these materials can be manufactured consistently and remain stable across a wide range of conditions, removing the need for cold-chain storage and enabling more flexible deployment. This has significant implications for the development of accessible diagnostics, particularly in settings where storage and transport infrastructure are limited.

For MetaGuideX, access to the CLF's Lasers for Science Facility enabled critical validation of the technology, accelerating progress towards a proof-of-concept diagnostic and supporting follow-on funding and partnerships.

More broadly, the project highlights how national facilities can support SMEs to de-risk innovation, providing access to specialist expertise and instrumentation that enables complex scientific questions to be addressed and translated into real-world applications.

Quotes

“When you're trying to create something new and can't afford failure, access to the right facilities and expertise is critical.  For a spin-out like ours, access to CLF has allowed us to generate data that builds confidence, supports investment, and moves us towards real-world application."

-        Dr Ryan Pink, CEO, MetaGuideX

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