Conference Agenda

Carcinogenesis involves DNA methylation which is a primary alteration in DNA in the development of cancer before genetic mutation. Because the abnormal DNA methylation is found in most cancer cells, the assessment of DNA methylation using terahertz radiation can be a novel optical method to detect and control cancer. The methylation has been directly observed by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and this epigenetic chemical change could be manipulated to the state of demethylation using resonant terahertz radiation. Demethylation of cancer cells is a key issue in epigenetic cancer therapy and our results demonstrate the feasibility of the cancer treatment using optical technique.

Controlled temperature elevation within biological tissues, known as hyperthermia, holds promise as a therapeutic treatment. Its efficacy depends on several factors including timing, pulsing, and repetition. Recent research indicates the potential of heat-based therapies not only for cancer treatment but also in tissue regeneration. The usage of photothermal agents, such as gold nanoparticles, enables precise spatio-temporal heat generation, known as photothermal therapy (PTT). Hydra vulgaris, with their unique regenerative capabilities, serve as valuable models for exploring the effects of nanoparticles on tissue regeneration. AuNPs thanks to their plasmonic properties can induce physiological responses in the animals under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, ranging from cell ablation to programmed cell death or thermotolerance. By tuning the NIR irradiation and the AuNPs dose, the capability of treated polyps to regenerate the missing heads under photostimulation will be dissected, at whole animal, cellular and molecular levels and compared to exposure to external macroscopic heat sources.

Coronaviruses are characterized by spike (S) glycoproteins, which are the largest structural membrane proteins and the first involved in the anchoring of the host receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) through the receptor binding domain (RBD). Its secondary structure is of great interest for shedding light on various aspects, from functionality to pathogenesis, finally to spectral fingerprint for the design of optical biosensors. The aim of this work is the characterization of the whole monomeric SARS-CoV-2 S protein, its constituting components, namely RBD, S1 and S2, at serological pH (7.4) and the S1 alterations induced to chemical/physical environmental modifications by measuring their amide I absorption bands through Attenuated Total Reflectance Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR).

Nature provides various organisms with ordered or quasi-ordered dielectric nanostructures that enable several animals, plants, and protists to manipulate light, optimizing inter- and intra-species communication, camouflage, or solar light harvesting. In particular, diatom microalgae possess nanostructured silica cell walls, known as frustules, which efficiently interact with optical radiation through multiple diffractive, refractive, scattering, waveguiding, and frequency down-conversion mechanisms. These properties contribute to diatoms’ efficiency in photosynthesis, UV tolerance, and possibly influence the phototaxis mechanisms of motile species. In our study, we utilized several imaging, spectroscopic, and numerical techniques to explore the optical functionalities of individual frustule components in the pennate, motile diatom Pleurosigma strigosum. We discuss the implications of frustule photonic properties on the living cell, and envision the exploitation of these properties in multifunctional, bio-derived photonic devices.

Thiophene-based materials (TMs) have emerged as promising candidates in the field of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as photosensitizers agents owing to their remarkable electron transport properties, which facilitate efficient energy transfer processes crucial for PDT. In detail, TMs exhibit favourable optical characteristics, making them suitable candidates for the absorption and conversion of light energy into reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby inducing cytotoxic effects in targeted cells. Recent studies have explored natural carriers, including proteins and phages, for enhanced cell uptake and permeation of photosensitizers, thereby enabling the induction of apoptosis across various cell lines. Despite the remarkable potential of this approach for PDT purposes, clinical translation necessitates in vivo models to validate these innovative tools. Here, we investigated the nanosafety and in vivo efficacy of these phototheranostic agents using the tissue-like animal model Hydra vulgaris. The transparency, softness, structural simplicity, and ethical neutrality of Hydra collectively render it an exemplary model for such inquiries. These features facilitate rapid screening of cytotoxicity and the effectiveness for photodinamic purposes.

Bioresorbable photonic implants are emerging as potential material choice for interstitial theranostic and monitoring applications. They gradually dissolve within the physiological environment in a clinically relevant period, eliminating the need for extraction surgeries. In the present study, we tested the suitability of in-house fabricated bioresorbable optical fibres based on calcium phosphate (CaP) glass for diffuse correlation spectroscopic (DCS) and diffuse fluorescence tomographic (DFT) applications. The results represent the potential of bioresorbable fibers for the monitoring of interstitial microvascular blood flow and the spatial distribution of fluorescent photosensitizer drugs that are administered prior to therapies. Together or separate, the continuous monitoring of these parameters can have significant implications in planning, optimizing and in predicting or monitoring the outcomes in interstitial photodynamic therapy (PDT).