Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. In 2022, there were more than 1.92 million new cases and approximately 0.9 million deaths. By 2040, the numbers of new cases and deaths are projected to increase by 63 percent and 73 percent, respectively.
In China, there were around 590,000 new cases and 310,000 deaths in 2022, with about 15 percent of patients younger than 50 years, significantly higher than the global average.
Although current treatments have advanced, efficacy remains limited by systemic toxicity, drug resistance, and inefficient delivery. Traditional chemotherapy achieves only 10 to 20 percent of plasma drug concentration within tumor tissue, and oral bioavailability is even lower. Immunotherapy benefits are largely limited to approximately 5 percent of patients with MSI-H tumors.
We therefore propose an innovative drug delivery strategy focused on enhanced targeting, deep penetration, and controllable release.

In and Out

In｜ Engineered Bacteria (Oral)

Oral engineered E. coli reach the colorectum, produce therapeutic proteins in situ, and release them in response to tumor microenvironment signals for precise tumor-specific delivery.

Engineered bacteria (oral) illustration

Out｜ Smart Microneedle Patch (Wearable)

Our self-developed smart, temperature-controlled microneedle patch is an all-in-one wearable. A PC-based control application pushes the dosing protocol, and the patch uses closed-loop thermal regulation to drive dissolvable microneedles for scheduled, on-demand, or pulsed release of the therapeutic protein TRACER–IL24.

Highlights

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  • Targeting Fit: Activation by the tumor microenvironment and in-situ production enable active molecules to accumulate preferentially at lesion sites.
  • High Bioavailability: Engineered bacteria continuously produce drugs locally, and the on-demand microneedle system releases TRACER–IL24 to improve effective concentration. Enhanced membrane penetration allows drugs to reach targets more efficiently and reduces the minimum effective dose.
  • Safety: The therapeutic molecules have high specificity and low toxicity. Signal-controlled dosing produces smoother exposure and reduces systemic side effects.
  • Usability and Scalability: The PC-based controller enables one-click deployment of protocols, easy operation, and no professional supervision, making it suitable for long-term home care and wide implementation. The combination of invasive and non-invasive routes allows flexible adjustment based on patient condition and preference, improving treatment compliance.