Dual Cherenkov Radiation-Induced Near-Infrared Luminescence Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy toward Tumor Resection.

Cherenkov radiation (CR), the blue light seen in nuclear reactors, is emitted by some radiopharmaceuticals. This study showed that (1) a portion of CR could be transferred in the region of the optical spectrum, where biological tissues are most transparent: as a result, upon radiance amplification in the near-infrared window, the detection of light could occur twice deeper in tissues than during classical Cherenkov luminescence imaging and (2) Cherenkov-photodynamic therapy (CR-PDT) on cells could be achieved under conditions mimicking unlimited depth using the CR-embarked light source, which is unlike standard PDT, where light penetration depth is limited in biological tissues. Both results are of utmost importance for simultaneous applications in tumor resection and post-resection treatment of remaining unresected margins, thanks to a molecular construct designed to raise its light collection efficiency (i.e., CR energy transfer) by conjugation with multiple CR-absorbing (water-soluble) antenna followed by intramolecular-FRET/TBET energy transfers.