Abstract

We propose a new approach to monitoring of photodynamic therapy (PDT) of glioblastoma with the use of targeted nanoconstructs containing a photosensitizer (PS) benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD) and IRDye800 dye, antibodies for efficient accumulation of the drug in a tumor, and a chemotherapeutic agent for combined effect on tumor cells. Monitoring of PDT is based on the simultaneous fluorescent and optoacoustic (OA) imaging. Fluorescent imaging provides visualization of fluorescence agents with high molecular sensitivity, and monitoring of the effectiveness of PDT by PS photobleaching. OA allows to examine the vascular pattern of the tumor environment, as well as assess the tumor depth. IRDye800 is a better contrast agent in comparison to BPD due to red shifted spectral characteristics and higher fluorescence quantum yield. The results of numerical simulations have been verified in phantom studies using fluorescence and optoacoustic experimental setups and an agar phantom with optical characteristics similar to those of murine brain.

© 2019 SPIE/OSA