Ultra-bright nanoscintillations for X-ray activated photodynamic therapy

• Grant number: 24/20543-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Verônica de Carvalho Teixeira
• Grantee: Shaian José Anghinoni
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/08111-2 - Development of rare earth based light converters: luminescent markers, optical sensors, and amplifiers, AP.TEM

Abstract

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the growth and proliferation of tumors in the body. In complex processes like metastasis, tumor cells migrate and invade tissues, potentially forming tumors in areas that are difficult to access due to their depth. In such cases, conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy lack tumor specificity and cause various side effects, highlighting the need for new effective therapies that can overcome significant tissue barriers. In this context, X-ray Photodynamic Therapy (X-PDT) emerges as a promising alternative, requiring the development of nanoscintillators capable of converting ionizing radiation from the ultraviolet to the near infrared. The use of rare-earth elements enhances the scintillation process and allows for the tuning of the material's luminescence, which can be combined with photosensitizing molecules to create advanced therapeutic platforms. Zinc gallate (ZnGa¿O¿) is a well-known host to prepare persistent luminescence, while subphthalocyanines are photosensitizers with well-known potential in photodynamic therapy. Therefore, the combination of these species is highly promising for the development of new platforms for X-PDT, in nanostructures that can also be coated with silica layers to increase their biocompatibility. Thus, this research aims to develop and characterize these therapeutic platforms, which are highly relevant to the fields of physics, chemistry, and medicine, with the potential to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.