122nd General Meeting of the KCS

Type Oral Presentation
Area Oral Presentations for Young Scholars in Organic Division
Room No. Room 325A+B
Time THU 10:00-:
Code ORGN.O-5
Subject The Development of New Nano-Photosensitizer and Overcoming Limits of Photodynamic Therapy
Authors Nahyun Kwon, Juyoung Yoon*
Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Korea
Abstract Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with its noninvasive characteristic is a promising treatment for cancer. When light activates the photosensitizer, the excited state energy is transferred to the bottom molecular oxygen to produce singlet oxygen, which has high cytotoxicity to the biological tissue. Unfortunately, solubility and tumor targeting of conventional photosensitizers are still unsatisfactory. Patients need to avoid exposing themselves to sunlight and room light during long periods (typically 4-6 weeks) after PDT treatment. Otherwise, "always on" PS causes a harmful photosensitization effect to the skin, eyes and other normal tissues. In addition, the hypoxic environment of tumor tissue seriously inhibits the PDT process that works through oxygen-dependent mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that nano-structured photosensitizer assemblies or nano-delivery systems are useful in overcoming this problem. Nano-photosensitizers can accumulate in tumor tissue due to improved permeability and retention (EPR) effects. Inspired by the well-known prodrug concept and the successful use of concomitant drugs in clinical medicine, we recently developed several approaches to fabricating new nano-photosensitizers and carried out the evaluation of tumor imaging and photodynamic activity.
E-mail nahyunkwon913@gmail.com