The drug 'made in Spain' that is activated reversibly with light and that can be used against cancer

Achieving a tablet or pill whose active ingredient

is not science fiction, according to an article published by researchers from the Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC) of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). ) in

.

This type of drug, activated with light from the outside if possible (in the case of melanoma) or inside through a catheter with an incorporated LED (in the case of tumors in organs), would spread throughout the body, but only it would be active exactly there in the therapeutic target, which would result in greater safety and fewer side effects, Laia Josa Culleré, researcher at the IQAC's Medicinal Chemistry and Synthesis group and lead author of the study, explained to this newspaper.

The molecule that he has developed, and which requires that it be based on a previous one, what it does is

when it is in contact with light or in the dark.

Another relevant detail of the project is the reversibility of the activation of the molecule: when it is activated with light in a specific area of ​​the body, it does not remain permanently but, while it spreads throughout the rest of the organism, it

gradually

.

And another one: to activate it,

(green in color, but another color such as blue is not ruled out) is necessary, which is less harmful and more permeable to cells than ultraviolet, and which has been used in other research projects. this type but has not allowed them to evolve towards

trials and in patients.

Josa Culleré indicates that in photopharmacology (drugs controlled by light) there have been advances in ophthalmology (retina) - "it is very easy to act on the eye with external light" - and studies have also been carried out in neurology (pain), cardiology and, only preliminarily, in

.

But it is in this last specialty where this type of light-activated drugs can contribute a lot, since current chemotherapeutics often fail to fully differentiate between cancerous and healthy cells, and this reduces their therapeutic window and efficacy and causes unwanted side effects.

"Photosensitive drugs, whose activity can be precisely controlled with external light in a reversible manner, can solve this problem, since they provide great control of the site of action and for a desired time", indicates Josa Culleré.

The use of light also allows control of the antitumor activity by adjusting parameters such as

.

'In vitro' experiment in cancer

The activity of the molecule has been tested

in four cancer cell lines:

.

The results have shown an increase in the death of cancer cells after illuminating the molecule with green light and no effect in dark conditions.

The team's researchers have reached a point in the project that they already consider "

possible ", says Josa Culleré.

The scientist points out that it is possible that this type of drug, in order to be taken to the clinic, requires the

to be able to control it both from the outside and inside the body, through catheters.

Josa Culleré speculates on the possibility of using it in

: after surgical removal, an internal biodegradable LED light could be implanted to activate

the chemotherapy

Something for which "we would have to go hand in hand with bioengineers," she points out.

Another option, which she also sees as feasible in the future, is to inject both the photopharmacology chemotherapeutic and the light that would activate it into the brain with a needle.

To achieve successful proof of concept

they need to test the molecule in

, which is transparent and that makes it easy to work with light, and in a mouse model with a superficial tumor, so that it can be illuminated with LED light from the abroad.

But the scientist insists that "

so that it can light up inside and on the tumor. Optimization work is still needed."

In the first

study , they will measure the size of the tumor before and after the experimental therapy and will also assess its safety and side effects compared to the profile of the conventional drug.

The study published now has received a

from Josa Culleré and will be able to continue thanks to a Juan de la Cierva grant from the Government.

When they have a successful proof of concept, Josa Culleré does not rule out the possibility of patenting the molecule,

and looking for a partner in the medical lighting sector.

The team has the support of doctors in several of its projects because, as Josa Culleré says: "They are the ones who can see it as feasible or not."

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• Pharmacology

• cancer