Cancer-Cell Specific Organometallic Ru(II) Complexes as Photosensitizers in Photodynamic Therapy

Project Information

OrganometRuPDT

Grant agreement ID: 839499

DOI

10.3030/839499

Project closed

EC signature date 23 April 2019

Start date 1 March 2020

End date 15 July 2021

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 107 746,24

EU contribution

€ 107 746,24

Coordinated by

ECOLE NATIONALE SUPERIEURE DE CHIMIE DE PARIS
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - OrganometRuPDT (Cancer-Cell Specific Organometallic Ru(II) Complexes as Photosensitizers in Photodynamic Therapy)

Reporting period: 2020-03-01 to 2021-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Cancer is still one of the most common and deadly diseases in the world. The current therapies usually have lots of side effects and some tumours are resistant to the most common therapeutics. Therefore, there is a need to tackle these problems and find out new strategies. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising therapy based in the combined effect of light, oxygen and a photosensitizer (PS). The non-toxic photosensitizer is excited and activated by light and this energy is transfered to oxygen, promoting singlet oxygen, extremely reactive species able to kill cells.
This therapeutic mechanism allows better specificity, since only the tumoral cells will be irradiated after the injection of the PS and therefore, it will reduce side effects in patients. Moreover, it will address the acquired resistance in some tumours, improving significantly the diagnosis of some patients.
The overall objective is the development of some metal complexes to be used as photosensitizers for PDT, including synthesis and characterization, and the test of these complexes in vitro first, and then in vivo.

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 project has succeeded in the main objective: the design and synthesis of a metal complex, which absorbs in the red region of the spectrum. This is one of the most important features for the use of the metal complexes as photosensitizers for PDT. Then, the complexes were functionalised to an antibody (Ab) for selective deliver to cancer cells.
The exploitation will depend on the final results but the first approaches are promising. These results, in any case and always after publication or patent, will be disseminate in social networks, social media and in some conferences. Additionally, I will write a publication in my personal website: www.onepotscience.com.

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)

When finished, the project will have a huge impact in the improvement of cancer therapies. This will lead to a clear impact on society and how people with cancer can fight this disease. It will help not only general society, but also chemists, biochemists and doctors.
So far, we have succeed to connect a metal complex to a monoclonal antibody (mAb), what is one of the scarce examples of this kind of attachment/combination.
We are extremely excited about the final results, and hope to help a little bit in cancer research, and support cancer patients.

TOC graphics for the summary