Researchers from NRNU MEPhI teamed up with international colleagues to explore a fascinating fusion of two dye families, one common in hair coloring and another widely used in printing ink. The collaboration yielded dye hybrids with promising potential for cancer diagnostics and photodynamic therapy. This development was shared with socialbites.ca through representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science.
The MEPhI team contributed as part of a global research effort that included partners from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and other nations. The aim was to extend understanding of how these dyes behave in complex chemical environments and how their properties can be harnessed for medical applications.
The resulting molecules exhibit solvatochromic behavior, meaning their color shifts in response to the solvent they are in. The researchers first modeled the dye structures computationally and then proceeded to synthesize the most promising candidates in the laboratory, validating the simulations with empirical data.
According to professor Konstantin Katin of NRNU MEPhI, computer simulation played a central role in the project. He noted that designing a molecule with the desired properties is extremely challenging without computational guidance. In their work, many iterations of calculations helped narrow down candidates before synthesis and characterization confirmed their potential.
The innovative hybrids are built on a fluorene-centered dye linked to an arylazo group. Fluorene is integral to numerous photosensitizers, sensing devices, fluorescent indicators, and light-emitting materials, while arylazo dyes are well known for their use in hair dyes, fabric dyes, and printing inks. This combination aims to create a molecule with tunable optical features and favorable solubility across a broad range of solvents.
One notable attribute of the new compounds is their solubility in nearly all organic solvents. This broad solubility is advantageous for studying solvent effects and exploiting solvatochromic shifts to extract information about solution properties, enabling both diagnostic and analytical applications in medicine and materials science.
Present work includes extensive computer simulations to identify viable carrier systems that can transport the dyes to different tumor types. The goal is to achieve effective localization within cancerous tissues, supporting accurate diagnosis and enhancing the efficacy of photodynamic therapy through targeted delivery and controlled activation.
In related progress, other research groups have explored optical approaches to nerve repair and tissue healing, illustrating the broader interest in photonic and dye-based strategies for biomedical interventions. The ongoing MEPhI project fits into this landscape by pursuing a smarter, computation-informed path to clinically relevant dyes and delivery mechanisms.