2. Academic Validation
  3. Molecular radio afterglow probes for cancer radiodynamic theranostics

Molecular radio afterglow probes for cancer radiodynamic theranostics

  • Nat Mater. 2023 Sep 4. doi: 10.1038/s41563-023-01659-1.
Jingsheng Huang 1,  Lichao Su 2,  Cheng Xu 1,  Xiaoguang Ge 2,  Ruiping Zhang 3,  Jibin Song 4 5,  Kanyi Pu 6 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang, Singapore.
  • 2 College of Chemical Engineering and College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China.
  • 3 Department of Radiology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China. [email protected].
  • 4 College of Chemical Engineering and College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China. [email protected].
  • 5 College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, People's Republic of China. [email protected].
  • 6 School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang, Singapore. [email protected].
  • 7 Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang, Singapore. [email protected].
PMID: 37667071 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-023-01659-1
Abstract

X-ray-induced afterglow and radiodynamic therapy tackle the tissue penetration issue of optical imaging and phototherapy. However, inorganic nanophosphors used in this therapy have their radio afterglow dynamic function as always on, limiting the detection specificity and treatment efficacy. Here we report organic luminophores (IDPAs) with near-infrared afterglow and 1O2 production after X-ray irradiation for Cancer theranostics. The in vivo radio afterglow of IDPAs is >25.0 times brighter than reported inorganic nanophosphors, whereas the radiodynamic production of 1O2 is >5.7 times higher than commercially available radio sensitizers. The modular structure of IDPAs permits the development of a smart molecular probe that only triggers its radio afterglow dynamic function in the presence of a Cancer biomarker. Thus, the probe enables the ultrasensitive detection of a diminutive tumour (0.64 mm) with superb contrast (tumour-to-background ratio of 234) and tumour-specific radiotherapy for brain tumour with molecular precision at low dosage. Our work reveals the molecular guidelines towards organic radio afterglow agents and highlights new opportunities for Cancer radio theranostics.

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