Acronym
LUMITOOLS
Code
41K08923
Duration
01 December 2023 → 31 August 2025
Funding
European funding: framework programme
Principal investigator
Research disciplines
-
Natural sciences
- f-block chemistry
Keywords
thermal monitoring
Project description
Thermal monitoring plays a paramount role in disease diagnosis. The currently available techniques are not performing satisfactorily for sophisticated in vivo temperature mapping. Employing luminescence for in vivo temperature assessment has attracted substantial interest in the past decade. However, despite their great promise and impact, to date, luminescent nanothermometers have not surpassed preclinical stages. Here, nano-safety, toxicity, and biocompatibility remain vivid issues, as the majority of the proposed fluorescent nanothermometers are built of heavy metals (rare-earth nanoparticles, quantum dots). In order to move towards usage of luminescent nanothermometers on the clinical level there is a clear need to resolve these obstacles, which is the goal of project LUMITOOLS. To achieve this goal, at this stage moving away from nanothermometers built of heavy metals seems well judged, at least until current toxicity and accumulation risks can be suitably addressed and rectified. The project aims at building nanothermometers from degradable periodic mesoporous organosilica materials combined with an appropriately selected dye mixture. The aim is to develop stable, well-performing nanothermometers, which thoroughly annihilate after they have done their job, would constitute an important advancement for future research efforts on in vivo thermometry applications. This project would allow delivering nanothermometers with true potential for implementatioin in clinics.
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA). Neither the European Union nor the authority can be held responsible for them.