Development of fundamental technology for electron microscopic imaging of short-lived chemical species

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21486
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 47:Pharmaceutical sciences and related fields
• Research Institution: Gifu Pharmaceutical University
• Principal Investigator: Hirayama Tasuku 岐阜薬科大学, 薬学部, 准教授 (10600207)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 光線力学療法 / 光増感剤 / ビスマス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study initially aimed to achieve nano-imaging of intracellular short-lived reactive species by electron microscopy. We tried to develop a new electron-microscope probe by fixing photosensitizer based on a principle of cell-membrane-anchoring molecules, which has already been developed in our group. However, we achieved new fluorescent photosensitizers and switching of their photosensitizing activity and fluorescence during a series of the study mentioned above. Thus, we report herein that the fluorescence and photo-toxicity could be simultaneously activated via a selective enzymatic reaction to achieve the fluorescence detection and photo-stimulated cell death of the cells expressing the target enzyme.

Free Research Field

ケミカルバイオロジー

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果は、蛍光と光増感作用の両方を有する珍しい蛍光性光増感剤として、ビスマス導入型ローダミンの開発と、その光物性制御に関する知見を与えるものである。本研究成果にて達成したがん細胞選択的な蛍光・光増感作用の同時活性化は、蛍光によるがんの検出と光照射によるがん治療を同時に達成可能にするものであり、新たな治療法への貢献が期待できる。