LUMInescence ThermOmeters fOr cLinicS

Project Information

LUMITOOLS

Grant agreement ID: 101137651

DOI

10.3030/101137651

Project closed

EC signature date 18 September 2023

Start date 1 December 2023

End date 31 August 2025

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 150 000,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITEIT GENT
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - LUMITOOLS (LUMInescence ThermOmeters fOr cLinicS)

Reporting period: 2023-12-01 to 2025-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Thermal monitoring plays a crucial role both in disease diagnostics and treatment control. Employing the luminescence thermometry technique for in vivo temperature assessment has attracted substantial interest in the past decade. However, despite the great promise and potential impact, to date, luminescence nanothermometers have not yet surpassed preclinical stages. This is heavily related to issues or concerns of toxicity, nano-safety and biocompatibility, as the majority of proposed luminescence nanothermometers are composed of heavy metals (e.g. quantum dots, lanthanide nanoparticles). To move towards usage of luminescent nanothermometers on the clinical level there is a clear need to resolve these obstacles, which is the goal of project LUMITOOLS. To achieve this goal in the coming years, at this stage moving away from nanothermometers built of heavy metals seems well judged, at least until current toxicity and accumulation risks can be suitably addressed and rectified. This project focuses on developing novel ratiometric thermometer materials constructed from degradable nanomaterials and dyes. Developing stable, well-performing nanothermometers, which completely degrade after they have done their planned work, would constitute an important advancement for future research efforts on in vivo thermometry applications.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The LUMITOOLS project has allowed us to fine-tune and validate in a lab environment our technology of luminescence thermometers designed without the contents of heavy metals. We have been able to extend the library of developed materials, ensure that no premature leaching takes place and obatin better reproducibility between batches.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

We are currently in the process of preparing a filing for additional IP protection of this technology.
Further research is still needed to validate our technology beyond the lab and in vitro studies. Currently further plans are made for ex vivo tissue studies which will be a step before in vivo studies.