Discrimination between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease using phage display identified peptides and virus-mimicking synthetic nanoparticles

Discrimination between Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) is an unsolved clinical issue in up to 10–15% of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. We developed a method capable to discriminate between the two clinical conditions by combining random peptide phage display screenings and nanoparticle (NP) based assays. We identified two peptides able to recognize selectively biopsies of inflamed mucosa of either CD or UC patients. The peptides were integrated into synthetic virus-mimicking nanoassemblies using a poly-avidin NP platform. Peptide functionalized nanoassemblies carrying about 400 peptides/NP were used to optimize a highly selective and specific microplate colorimetric test which allowed us to distinguish CD from UC in inflamed IBD epithelia tissues. The method could complement and expand the diagnostic armamentarium in IBDs, especially when discrimination between these CD and UC is not straightforward.