Major
Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Anticipated Graduation Year
2021
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
This project investigates the use of folate for targeted delivery of photosensitizers to tumors in photodynamic therapy. A photosensitizer, chlorin e6, produces toxic singlet oxygen through excitation by light, causing apoptosis. However, lack of selective targeting in PDT remains a challenge in cancer treatments. Folate, an essential vitamin, is used to serve as targeting agent since rapidly dividing cancerous cells over-express folate receptors. Folate is conjugated to Ce6 on a bovine serum albumin carrier and brought into the cell by endocytosis. The treatment is applied to zebrafish embryos because the embryonic cells possess an ortholog to the human FOLR1 receptor.
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Dr. Ken Olsen, Faculty Mentor/PI, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Dr. Rodney M. Dale, Faculty Mentor/PI, Department of Biology & Bioinformatics
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Synthesis of a Folate-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy Agent and Application in Zebrafish Embryos
This project investigates the use of folate for targeted delivery of photosensitizers to tumors in photodynamic therapy. A photosensitizer, chlorin e6, produces toxic singlet oxygen through excitation by light, causing apoptosis. However, lack of selective targeting in PDT remains a challenge in cancer treatments. Folate, an essential vitamin, is used to serve as targeting agent since rapidly dividing cancerous cells over-express folate receptors. Folate is conjugated to Ce6 on a bovine serum albumin carrier and brought into the cell by endocytosis. The treatment is applied to zebrafish embryos because the embryonic cells possess an ortholog to the human FOLR1 receptor.