Theranostic photosensitizers (Phosphorescence-guided surgery combined with photodynamic therapy)

This project will explore the concept of theranostic agents to demonstrate its utility in the Photodynamic therapy (PDT) field and convince the medical community to include PDT as a common clinical treatment against a wide variety of diseases such as virus, bacterial or fungi infections and cancer.

The project is based on the concept that it should be possible to use the same light to induce the death of the cancer cells or pathogenic bacteria, and simultaneously measure the amount of ROS generated to avoid unnecessary damage to the surroundings tissues or visualize the remaining tumor cells after the surgery treatment to completely eradicate them. The resesarcher working in this Beatriu de Pinos Fellowship is Dr. Roger Bresolí under the supervision of Dr. Santi Nonell.