Project title: Targeted photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment
Employer: Trinity College of Dublin (TCD, Ireland); Cotutelle: University of Coimbra (UC, Portugal)
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Mathias O. SENGE (TCD), Dr. Ligia GOMES DA-SILVA (UC)
Research secondments: University of St Andrews, PorphyChem
Practical rotation: Biolitec
Research project description and main objectives: The development of highly specific and photoactive tetrapyrrolic photosensitizers (PS) for oncological applications is a main objective of the POLYTHEA projects. In this framework, this project involves the development of a novel strategy for targeted delivery of PS to enable a rapid and specific accumulation of the PS in a solid tumor and with a level of accumulation that will allow positive therapeutic outcomes. It is based on the simultaneous targeting of cancer as well as endothelial cells from the tumor blood and lymphatic vessels.
Thus this project will be divided into two parts:
1- Synthesis of dual-targeting PS
2- In vitro uptake and cytotoxicity studies, both in cancer and endothelial cells, with the targeted-PS and with its non-targeted counterpart as well as bio-distribution studies
Piotr’s publications:
- P. Gierlich, A.I. Mata, C. Donohoe, R.M.M Brito, M.O. Senge, L.C. Gomes-da-Silva, Ligand-tageted delivery of photosensitizers for cancer treatment, MDPI, 2020, DOI: 10.3390/molecules25225317
- B. Khurana, P. Gierlich, A. Meindl, L. C. Gomes-da-Silva and M. O. Senge, Hydrogels: soft matters in photomedicine, Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 2019, DOI: 10.1039/C9PP00221A
- P. Gierlich, S.G. Mucha, E. Robbins, L. C. Gomes-da-Silva, K. Matczyszyn, M. O. Senge, One-Photon and Two-Photon Photophysical Properties of Tetrafunctionalized 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(m-hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (Temoporfin) Derivatives as Potential Two-Photon-Induced Photodynamic Therapy Agents, Chemistry Europe, 2021, doi: 10.1002/cptc.202100249
Links:
- Article for Piotr’s fellowship to attend 2019-ESP-IUPB world congress in Barcelona
- Piotr presented a poster at the European Conference of Spectroscopy of Biological Molecules in Dublin
- Piotr’s presentation at the World Congress of Light and Life
- Piotr’s covid-19 interview:
- Piotr elected at the Supervisory Board
- Piotr presented during TCD’s 3rd year talk
