One of the main challenges in cancer treatment is ensuring that therapies specifically target tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Added to this are other limitations, such as the difficulty of monitoring treatment response in real time and the side effects associated with some conventional therapies.
To address this challenge, Dr. Daniel Zúñiga is leading a Fondecyt Iniciación project to design and develop novel theranostic probes. These specialized agents are engineered to target cancer cells and eliminate them using photodynamic therapy selectively.
“The main objective is to improve the selectivity, efficacy, and real-time monitoring of cancer treatment by combining three elements into a single molecule: a photosensitizer, a targeting peptide, and a fluorescent probe,” explained the researcher.
The project aims to integrate diagnosis and therapy into a single molecular platform. This unified approach enables selective identification of tumor cells, monitoring treatment progress in real time, and delivering highly targeted therapeutic action directly to cancer cells.
“Theranostic probes are molecules that combine diagnosis and treatment into a single system. One part allows for the detection of cancer cells via fluorescence and, at the same time, induces cell death through photodynamic therapy,” the researcher explained.
A key component of the project is the inclusion of an RGD-type peptide. This targeting mechanism enables the probes to bind selectively to tumor tissue, significantly improving treatment efficacy while minimizing impacts on healthy cells.
“The RGD peptide acts as a molecular targeting system. It is recognized by specific receptors that are overexpressed in cancer cells, which allows the probe to be selectively directed toward the tumor and enhances its accumulation in the cells we aim to eliminate,” noted Dr. Zúñiga.
The four-year research unfolds across several key stages: synthesizing the molecular components, characterizing their photophysical properties, and testing their performance in both cancerous and healthy cells. Using advanced bioimaging, the team will also track in real time how these molecules enter and distribute within cells.
As the researcher explains, photodynamic therapy offers significant advantages over more traditional treatments. “Among its main benefits are reduced invasiveness, fewer side effects, localized activation, and the ability to complement other treatments. Furthermore, it allows the treatment to act only when the compound is activated by specific light,” the researcher noted.
The project brings together Usach specialists in organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and cell biology, alongside key collaborators from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and the University of Panama. This interdisciplinary network combines diverse scientific expertise to tackle one of modern medicine’s greatest health challenges.
Beyond its potential to transform cancer care, the project aims to strengthen national scientific capabilities and advance Chile's expertise in strategic biomedical fields.
“Conducting this type of research in Chile is extremely important because it advances cancer research, strengthens interdisciplinary science, and positions the country in cutting-edge fields such as precision medicine and the development of alternative treatments for this disease,” emphasized Dr. Zúñiga.
Upon completion, the team aims to deliver next-generation theranostic probes featuring superior tumor recognition, higher therapeutic efficiency, and strong potential for future biomedical applications.
“The most motivating aspect of this work is developing a technology that combines diagnosis and treatment into a single platform with real potential to impact public health,” said Dr. Zúñiga. “We hope to contribute directly to safer, more effective cancer therapies.”