Innovative developments in the framework of interdisciplinary research: Drugs for radio- and photodynamic therapy

Treatment strategies based on the combined action of light waves and photosensitive compounds (PS) on tumor cells are highly promising. However, their widespread application is hindered by the penetration depth of infrared waves into body tissues and the “imperfect” design of drugs used in medical practice. The PS activated by electromagnetic waves can be used for non-invasive treatment of deep-seated tumors. The combination of conventional radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) can potentially reduce the toxic effect on normal tissues while maintaining the effectiveness of these methods. The action mechanism of radiophotodynamic therapy (RPDT), as well as the experimental models and protocols for its implementation, remain poorly understood. In this review, we present information on the evolution of the RPDT method and the main scientific achievements in this area. These also include the results obtained by joint efforts of the Pacific State Medical University and the Institute of Chemistry of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, supported by the Priority-2030 strategic academic leadership program.

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