A breakthrough in photodynamic therapy

An international team led by physics researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington Bioactive substance It describes a breakthrough in photodynamic therapy (PDT), a new cancer treatment.

Nil Kanatha Pandey, a PhD student in Professor Wei Chen’s lab in Physics, is the first author of “Very Effective Aggregation-Induced Luminescent Lighter”. microwave The study was led by Chen in collaboration with Lingyun Wang, a professor of chemistry and chemical engineering at South China University of Technology.

PDT combines photosensitive molecules or photosensitizers with light from the tumor site to produce powerful oxygen species that destroy them. cancer cell.. Researchers consider PDT to be a promising cancer treatment because it is invasive and has minimal side effects, but this procedure is not without its obstacles.

“To Human tissue“The depth that light particles can reach is limited. In the case of cancer deep inside organs and muscles, PDT is less effective because it cannot send light to the tumor site,” Chen said. ..

Traditional photosensitive molecules used in PDTs are also oxygen-dependent, and oxygen is often not present near the tumor site. However, an alternative method of tumor destruction known as thermal ablation provides a pathway to overcome the challenges of traditional PDT.

Thermal ablation is considered one of the most effective treatments in combination Cancer treatment It leads to increased susceptibility of tumors to PDT, chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy.During ~ Heat cauterizationThe tissue is heated by microwave technology, dilating blood vessels and increasing blood flow. This fever also increases the oxygen contained in the blood itself, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the treatment.

In that study, the team used microwave technology to activate a special type of photosensitive molecule known as agglomeration-induced luminescent chromophores (AIEgens). AIEgens is a new material that provides enhanced oxygen production over traditional photosensitizers. Chen and his researchers say that heating the cancer-affected areas with microwave irradiation to activate AIEgen allows deep penetration of the tissue, producing reactive oxygen species that kill cancer cells. I found that.

The team argues that the proposed method of microwave-guided PDT can be used alone or in combination with other cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy.

“Microwave-induced PDT is a new phenomenon that has many advantages over traditional photodynamic therapy, including maneuverability, faster resection times, and negligible side effects,” Chen said. “Most notably, it allows for deeper penetration of the organization.”

Chen’s team said that the discovery not only solves the problems of traditional PDT, but also reduces the microwave dose required to achieve the same result, thereby reducing the occurrence of side effects of microwave irradiation. We believe it will also help improve microwave ablation therapy.

Chen with AI Egens Microwave technology It may lead to the discovery of more effective cancer treatments for hard-to-reach tumors.

“This discovery will help researchers around the world investigate photodynamic therapy and open the door to new applications for AI Egens,” Chen said. “Our main goal is to make PDT effective and accessible. cancer Patient as much as possible. ”