Development of Scintillating Nanodevices for Application in X-Ray-Activated Photodynamic Therapy.

• Grant number: 22/09967-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2022
• End date: October 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Éder José Guidelli
• Grantee: João Victor Vieira Lessa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Lanthanide-based nanoparticles have attracted much interest in research because they combine properties of different materials to meet specific needs in different applications. The luminescent emission, for example, can be adjusted by the doping process using different lanthanides. In this way, it is possible to build nanoparticles with suitable optical properties for each application. In medical physics, these nanoparticles have potential applications for detection of ionizing radiation in optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), thermoluminescence (TL) and radioluminescence (RL). In addition, one of the recent discoveries about the potential of scintillating nanoparticles is about new techniques for cancer treatment, such as photodynamic therapy performed simultaneously with radiotherapy, in which the drug can be activated with ionizing radiation (X-rays) due to the radioluminescent emission of nanoparticle. The objective of this project is the development of scintillating nanoparticles based on lanthanides as well as the morphological-structural characterization of the nanostructures produced. Its luminescent, magnetic and free radical production properties will be investigated, allowing the advancement of X-ray activated photodynamic therapy through the development of these nanodevices.