Research

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Title :

Development of two-photon fluorescent probes for proto-oncogenic kinases with potential applications in anticancer drug screening and targeted drug delivery

Area of research :

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Principal Investigator :

Dr. Subhankar Singha, JIS University, West Bengal

Timeline Start Year :

2022

Timeline End Year :

2025

Contact info :

Equipments :

Details

Executive Summary :

Early diagnosis and proper treatment are crucial for cancer patients' survival. Currently, there are few simple yet efficient methods for early screening or diagnosis of cancer. The development of anticancer drugs requires long and laborious processes, but personalized medicine is essential for efficient therapy. This project aims to develop small-molecule fluorescence probes based on two-photon absorbing molecules for cancer diagnosis and imaging by targeting protooncogenic tyrosine kinase, a common cancer biomarker. The unique strategy of fluorescence probe development allows the signaling fluorophore to act as an enzyme recognition moiety, eliminating the need for additional moiety. These probes can cause minimal perturbation of the native state and activity of enzymes, making them suitable for developing novel inhibitor assay protocols for screening kinase inhibitors (anticancer drugs) from purified natural products and raw/crude plant extracts in solution with pure enzyme. This approach avoids the drawbacks of existing inhibitor screening strategies, which require extensive and laborious purification prior to assay. Initial data shows promising kinase sensing and inhibitor screening capability, and the probe moieties could also act as targeting ligands for specific kinases overexpressed in cancer cells. Prodrugs or liposomes encapsulating drugs attached with fluorescence probes could be developed as theranostics agents for targeted drug delivery and monitoring therapy processes through fluorescence imaging, both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, this project represents a novel effort towards personalized medicine for cancer by targeting proto-oncogenes kinases.

Co-PI:

Dr. Sankarprasad Bhuniya, JIS University, West Bengal-700109, Dr. Farhat Afrin, JIS University, West Bengal-700109

Total Budget (INR):

37,98,696

Organizations involved