Development of Hydrogel-based Phototheranostic Systems with Targeted Action on Breast Cancer
Summary
Breast cancer is a significant health issue with high incidence worldwide. Current treatment approaches face challenges such as therapy resistance, invasiveness of biopsy, non-specific toxicity of chemotherapy, and damage to healthy tissues by radiation therapy. To overcome these challenges, the proposed project aims to develop hydrogel-based phototheranostic systems for targeted breast cancer treatment. This interdisciplinary approach combines photodynamic therapy with hydrogel drug delivery systems to provide real-time diagnosis and concurrent treatment. the photosensitizer used is Motexafin lutetium (MLu) due to its fluorescence emission and singlet oxygen generation capabilities. Motexafin lutetium can be activated by 732 nm light, enabling deeper tissue penetration.
The project involves two stages: development and evaluation of phototheranostic systems, and characterization and in vitro evaluation of hydrogel systems. Activities include designing irradiation systems, characterizing motexafin lutetium and hydrogels, optimizing parameters, and evaluating therapeutic efficacy. The proposed systems aim to enhance selectivity, and controlled drug delivery while minimizing systemic toxicity. By addressing the limitations of current approaches, this project offers originality, innovation, and potential advancements in breast cancer treatment.
Cognitive and Socio-Economic Impact
The project has generated both significant cognitive and socio-economic impact by advancing fundamental knowledge and enabling future applications in photodynamic therapy and smart biomaterials. Scientifically, it has clarified the photophysical behavior of motexafin lutetium (MLu), demonstrating a high singlet oxygen quantum yield and positioning MLu as a highly efficient photosensitizer for breast cancer phototherapy, while also establishing experimental methodologies and custom optical setups for real-time monitoring of singlet oxygen and laser-induced hydrogel photopolymerization. At the same time, the project has provided an integrated framework linking irradiation parameters, hydrogel network structure, residual photoinitiator content, and MLu release kinetics, thus defining optimal processing windows for several MLu-loaded hydrogel formulations. Socio-economically, these results open a path toward minimally invasive, localized treatments with reduced side effects and potential cost savings for cancer care, and offer transferable know-how for other biomedical and industrial applications involving photocrosslinked hydrogels. The creation of dedicated experimental infrastructure, the training of young researchers, participation in international conferences, preparation of a scientific manuscript, and drafting of a patent application further strengthen the institution’s research capacity and its potential for innovation and technology transfer.
Expected results
The project's scientific results are focused on the development and characterization of hydrogel-based phototheranostic systems using MLu as a photosensitizer in view of targeted therapeutic action against breast cancer. The expected result indicators include:
• Characterization of MLu exposed to laser radiation, including fluorescence and singlet oxygen measurements.
• Formation of hydrogels using poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethylene glycol), and their combinations, through photo-polymerization.
• Evaluation of the physical and chemical properties of the hydrogels using spectroscopic techniques, microscopy, and contact angle measurements.
• Characterization of MLu hydrogel systems, including monitoring of fluorescence and singlet oxygen generation.
• Release studies of MLu from the hydrogels and evaluation of therapeutic efficacy using in vitro assays.