CARTHER · Carbon-based nano-materials for theranostic application

Carbon-based nano-materials for theranostic application

Novel nanomaterials are considered to be of great strategic importance for the development of nanomedicine in Europe on a long-term basis. In particular, there is an enormously growing interest in research and development of IVth group nanostructures for various applications in the fields of bio-photonics as well as in the nanomedicine. Recent research indicates that carbon-based nanoparticles can penetrate into cells and can be used as luminescent labels due to the unique room temperature light emission. In addition, the unique physical properties of nanoparticles like cavitation, hyperthermia or formation of singlet oxygen can be used for the pioneering cancer therapy. The main general objective of our project aim creation of innovative approaches for multi-functional application of carbon nanomaterials for diagnostics and therapy of cancer. The combination of pre-clinical, in-vitro and in-vivo application of new photo-induced theranostic approaches based on carbon nanomaterials make this project a unique endeavor. More specifically, 4 different carbon nanomaterials, such as: carbon fluoroxide nanoparticles, nanodiamonds, carbon nanotubes and graphene developed by the partners involved in the project will be in focus of the proposed study. After their incorporation into cancer cell cultures and animals, original photo-induced imaging approaches (based on photo-electric and photo-acoustic measurements) will be applied. For the imaging purpose, the carbon nanomaterials will play a role of photo-sensitive nano-agents allowing efficient visualization (at minimal exciting optical powers) of the cells and tissues in which they will be incorporated. After identification and characterization, cancer cells and tumor tissues with enhanced content of the nano-carbon agents (compared to control cell and tissue samples) are planned to be selectively destroyed by photo-induced treatments due to simultaneously acting photo-induced thermal and acoustic effects. The cancer killing will be carried out by means of the same optical equipment (at optical powers above a characteristic threshold) previously applied for imaging purpose.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union