Development of photosensitizer delivery systems targeting tumor-associated amino acid transporters

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20196
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 90120:Biomaterials-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Nomoto Takahiro 東京工業大学, 科学技術創成研究院, 助教 (00734732)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 薬物送達技術 / 光線力学療法 / アミノ酸トランスポーター

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research project was aimed at developing a drug delivery system (DDS) targeting tumor-associated amino acid transporters. A polymer was synthesized as the backbone of the DDS and molecules with structures similar to the substrates of the amino acid transporters were conjugated with the side chains of the polymer. When molecules with certain amino acid structures were introduced into the side chain, the DDS was recognized by the tumor-associated amino acid transporter and selectively accumulated within tumors. It was also demonstrated that this DDS should be useful for photodynamic therapy.

Free Research Field

薬物送達学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

腫瘍関連アミノ酸トランスポーターを標的としたDDSの構築に成功し、そのDDSを用いてマウス腫瘍モデルに対して光線力学療法を行ったところ、有意な腫瘍増殖抑制効果が得られることが明らかとなった。また、本DDSの設計についても構造の微調整が最終的な活性に大きく影響することも明らかにした。これらの知見は新たな医療モダリティを開発するにあたり有用なものであると期待される。