Scientists from NRNU MEPhI, together with their foreign colleagues, “crossed” two types of dyes, one of which is used in hair dye and printer ink. The resulting hybrids can be used in the diagnosis and photodynamic therapy of cancerous tumors. This was reported to socialbites.ca at the Ministry of Education and Science.
NRNU MEPhI employees of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science worked on the scientific work as part of an international scientific group: Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other countries.
The molecules obtained by scientists have solvatochromic properties, that is, they change color depending on the properties of the solvent in which they are found. Scientists modeled the dyes and then synthesized them.
“The role of computer simulation in our work is very important. Synthesizing a “good” molecule without the aid of a computer is as difficult as finding a golden grain of sand in an ordinary sand pile. NRNU MEPhI professor Konstantin Katin said in an interview with socialbites.ca that our molecules were found as a result of many calculations, but only after that they were synthesized and characterized.
The new molecules are a hybrid based on a fluorine dye and an arylazo group. Fluorene is the basis of many photosensitizers, sensors, fluorescent indicators and light emitting materials. Dyes containing arylazo group are used in hair and fabric dyes, inkjet and laser printers.
The resulting molecules are soluble in almost all organic solvents. This makes it possible to use new substances to determine the properties of solutions, as well as strong solvatochromic properties.
Currently, scientists are running computer simulations to search for suitable carriers that can deliver the resulting dyes to various tumor types and deposit them effectively in cancer diagnosis as well as in photodynamic therapy of cancerous tumors.
Previously at MSMU Sechenov suggested Repair torn nerves with red light and silk.