Development of sono-activatable photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy of cancer

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K05741
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Functional solid state chemistry
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Horiuchi Hiroaki 群馬大学, 大学院理工学府, 准教授 (00334136)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 奥津 哲夫 群馬大学, 大学院理工学府, 教授 (20261860)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 光線力学療法 / 一重項酸素 / 光増感剤 / 超音波 / 活性制御 / ON/OFFスイッチング / 会合体 / 自己消光

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Photodynamic therapy is one of a non-invasive cancer treatment using photosensitization of singlet oxygen. However, it is difficult to reduce the distribution of photosensitizer to normal tissue to zero, and singlet oxygen is also produced even in normal tissue to induce side effects.
In order to solve this problem, we will introduce an ON / OFF switching mechanism to photosensitizers, and aim to develop drugs that do not function in normal tissues and function only in cancer tissues. Moreover, we tried to induce the ON / OFF switching by sonication, which is one of a low invasive trigger. Specifically, aggregates of photosensitizers will be prepared to produce the OFF state by intramolecular self-quenching. The OFF to ON switching will be induced by the disaggregation by sonocation.

Free Research Field

機能物性化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在の主力のガン治療法は強力である反面、副作用も大きく、患者の生活の質の改善は重要である。光と薬剤を組み合わせた光線力学療法は非侵襲的なガン治療法として期待されているものの、明所においては副作用が生じ、患者は治療後に暗所で長期間過ごす必要があるなどの問題を抱えている。本課題では光線力学療法の非侵襲性を飛躍的に向上させることを目指しており、将来的に本課題のメカニズムを導入できれば、日帰り治療が可能な、手軽なガン治療法として普及できる可能性を有する。