In vivo selective cancer-tracking gadolinium eradicator as new-generation photodynamic therapy agent

In this work, we demonstrate a modality of photodynamic therapy (PDT) through the design of our truly dual-functional-PDT and imaging-gadolinium complex (Gd-N), which can target cancer cells specifically. In the light of our design, the PDT drug can specifically localize on the anionic cell membrane of cancer cells in which its laser-excited photoemission signal can be monitored without triggering the phototoxic generation of reactive oxygen species-singlet oxygen-before due excitation. Comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies had been conducted for the substantiation of the effectiveness of Gd-N as such a tumor-selective PDT photosensitizer. This treatment modality does initiate a new direction in the development of precision medicine in line with stem cell and gene therapies as tools in cancer therapy.