ISQCH researchers develop a biomolecule that identifies and treats lung tumors

This compound allows the visualization of tumor cells when irradiated with visible light, at the same time that it acts as an antitumor agent by attacking lung cancer cells.

Researchers from the Institute of Chemical Synthesis and Homogeneous Catalysis (ISQCH), a joint institute between the CSIC and the University of Zaragoza, have developed a biomolecule with gold and iridium, which allows the identification and treatment of lung tumors.

This new compound allows the visualization of tumor cells when irradiated with visible light, at the same time that it acts as an antitumor agent by attacking lung cancer cells. The results have been published in the scientific journal Journal Chemistry - A European Journal, the University of Zaragoza reported in a press release.

This biomolecule combines two metal fragments with totally different intrinsic properties, one emitting light and the other therapeutic, through a specific peptide that acts as a link between both fragments. Furthermore, this peptide is easily recognized by cancer cells and promotes the metallodrug to penetrate them.

Once inside, its behavior can be visualized through fluorescence techniques, which provides "invaluable information" to improve its effectiveness and minimize the side effects it may cause, the aforementioned sources have indicated.

Obtaining this new theragnostic agent of iridium and gold has been possible thanks to the research work of the group led by Research Professor Concepción Gimeno, belonging to the Institute of Chemical Synthesis and Homogeneous Catalysis, in collaboration with Professor Nils Metzler-Nolte of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, in Germany.

DOCTORAL THESIS

For his part, Andrés Luengo has carried out this work as part of his doctoral thesis, directed by Concepción Gimeno and Vanesa Fernández-Moreira. During his stay in Germany, Andrés Luengo managed to carry out the synthesis of different biomolecules, all of them peptides of different nature, and mark them with a luminescent metallic fragment of iridium that allows their visualization using fluorescence techniques.

These compounds have the same properties as other visualization agents currently used, but using visible radiation, harmless to the organism, for their detection.

Finally, in Professor Gimeno's laboratory, Andrés Luengo managed to combine this light-emitting compound with a metal fragment of gold, capable of attacking lung tumor cells. In this way, the theragnostic agent itself was obtained, which opens the door to future research within the field of therapy and diagnosis.

The exhaustive analysis of the new species obtained demonstrated an unexpected cellular biodistribution in lysosomes. The study also demonstrated that the therapeutic effect of the developed compounds is conditioned by the stability of the bond of the gold fragment with the biomolecule, its breakdown being necessary to attack tumor cells.