# NANOPHOTOSENSITIZERS FOR REGENERATIVE PHOTOTHERAPY OF TUMORS

> **NIH NIH R01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $450,672

## Abstract

Abstract
 Inorganic nanoparticles (INPs) exhibit unique properties that favor their diverse application
in medicine, engineering, science, and technology. The large surface-to-volume ratio of these
INPs provides sites for the attachment of multiple drugs and/or imaging agents for therapy and
imaging of diverse human diseases. Further conjugation of biological entities, such as proteins,
nucleic acids, and lipids confers specific targeting of these INPs to desired tissues in vivo. Recent
studies have shown that the intrinsic properties of some INPs can be harnessed for therapeutic
outcomes, but spontaneous stimulation of intrinsic therapeutic effects through interactions of the
NPs with intracellular organelles, proteins, or molecular processes is difficult to control, leading to
significant off target toxicity. An alternative therapeutic approach can be achieved by harnessing
the ability of some INPs to serve as efficient nanoscale energy transducers. Quantum dots,
upconversion NPs, carbon nanomaterials, and photocatalytic NPs such as titanium dioxide
nanoparticles are some nanoscale energy transducers that have shown promise in the treatment
of human diseases. The excellent redox properties of these nanophotosensitizers offer high
spatiotemporal control and precision phototherapy upon absorption of light. Two major limitations
of current phototherapeutic interventions are the limited penetration of light used to activate the
photosentizers, which confines therapy to shallow lesions, and the frequent reliance on oxygen
to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, which precludes effective treatment under the
hypoxic conditions found in many solid tumors.
 We hypothesize that photoactivation of low radiance-sensitive nanophotosensitizers via
depth-independent Cerenkov radiation will generate cytotoxic free radicals in an oxygen-
independent manner for effective therapy. In this proposal, we will (1) Synthesize and optimize
tumor-targeting nanophotosensitizers for effective spatiotemporal therapy of diseases; and (2)
optimize orthogonally targeted radionuclides for selective delivery of Cerenkov radiation to
pathologic cells and tissue. Using animal models of cancer, we will determine the efficacy of
Cerenkov radiation mediated nano-phototherapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10164004
- **Project number:** 3R01EB021048-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Samuel Achilefu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $450,672
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10164004

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10164004, NANOPHOTOSENSITIZERS FOR REGENERATIVE PHOTOTHERAPY OF TUMORS (3R01EB021048-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10164004. Licensed CC0.

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