Investigation of possible effects of ionizing radiation on photosensitive molecules for use in photodynamics

• Grant number: 23/13911-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Program to Stimulate Scientific Vocations
• Start date: January 08, 2024
• End date: February 27, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Radiology and Photobiology
• Principal Investigator: Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
• Grantee: Francisco Hermeson de Souza Gomes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cancer has been one of the three main causes of death in the world and The main techniques for treating cancer are surgery, chemotherapy andradiotherapy, which despite presenting good results also presents significant disadvantages.Head and neck injuries, although aggressive, present good response to systemic photodynamic therapy (PDT), which has the advantages of beingminimally invasive and highly selective compared to surgery or radiotherapy, reducing side effects. The use of PDT associated with radiotherapy can bea promising tool in the treatment of massive tumors, allowing the application lower dose of ionizing radiation in treatments, maintaining effectiveness and causing fewer side effects for patients.This study aims to investigate the possible effects of ionizing radiation in porphyrin-type photosensitizer (PS), commonly used in systemic PDT.Understanding how radiation from radiotherapy can affect functionality of the FS molecule will allow PDT association protocols with radiotherapy are proposed.Fluorescence and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy will be used to evaluate possible optical and structural changes, respectively, ofporphyrin molecules in solution after receiving different doses of ionizing radiation.In cell culture, the photodynamic effect of solutions will also be evaluated.photosensitizers who previously received ionizing radiation causing death in cells of tumor and non-tumor lineage. (AU)