Combined molecule to deal with hypoxic tumours developed by UNN chemists
The combined molecule is made up of two active components: the chemotherapy agent cabozantinib and the photosensitizer BODIPY. They are released when exposed to red light and simultaneously target tumour cells. In the future, this antitumour complex has the potential to become the basis for developing new medications, including those used to treat one of the most aggressive types of cancer - triple negative breast cancer.
"Despite the advantages of photodynamic therapy, photosensitizers are not effective against cancer cells that lack oxygen. This is typical for large tumours, which can be particularly difficult to treat. To address this issue, our molecule incorporates an additional "weapon" - the chemotherapy drug cabozantinib - which is effective even in hypoxic areas of tumours. Thanks to this combination, the compound has demonstrated high efficacy in cellular experiments," said Natalia Kuzmina, the author of the study, a junior researcher at the UNN Department of Organic Chemistry.
BODIPY photosensitizers are well-known around the world, mainly as dyes used to visualize various processes in cells. However, their use in photodynamic therapy remains relatively limited. In a recent study, researchers from Lobachevsky University’s Department of Organic Chemistry were among the first to propose an innovative approach to designing combined BODIPY agents that are photocleavable by irradiation in the red region of the spectrum for use in the treatment of cancerous tumours.
"For a long time, scientists have been discussing whether it is possible to make a similar drug based on a BODIPY compound. Can it function as an antitumour agent, break down, and activate within tumor cells? We have demonstrated that this is indeed possible. However, the current rate of breakdown is insufficient to serve as the foundation for medicinal formulations. Our goal is to enhance the molecule's performance and accelerate the reaction in order to release anti-tumour agents," explained Vasily Otvagin, the study's author and an associate professor at the UNN Department of Organic Chemistry.
The research was conducted with the financial support of the Russian Science Foundation. Scientists from the Department of Organic Chemistry and the Department of Biophysics at Lobachevsky University were involved in the project. The findings were published in the prestigious journal Bioconjugate Chemistry in 2025.
