Lobachevsky University of Nizhny Novgorod (UNN) has created an effective drug to fight cancer. Scientists combined several active molecules in one drug, which made it possible to carry out combined photodynamic (PDT) and chemotherapy for oncological diseases, the university's press service said.
Associate Professor of the Department of Organic Chemistry of the Faculty of Chemistry of UNN, Vasily Otvagin, said that the drug was created on the basis of proven components. It includes green algae, a photosensitizer (a substance that increases the body's sensitivity to visible radiation), the chemotherapy drug "Cabozantinib" and an analogue of photoditazine (a second-generation photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy).
The linker (molecular fragment) is sensitive to the enzyme glucuronidase, which accumulates in tumors. Reaching a cancer cell, the drug breaks down into components. The photosensitizer destroys the tumor, and the chemotherapy drug eliminates the remaining cancer-affected tissues.
The high selectivity of the created molecule is realized through the use of a special linker-bundle that breaks down inside tumor tissues.
This combination of components increases the effectiveness of the drug. Scientists confirmed their findings during experiments on cell cultures.
Earlier www1.ru reported that Russian scientists learned to remove tumors using electromagnetic radiation.
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