Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, underscoring the strong need for effective yet minimally invasive therapeutic approaches. Conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are often effective but frequently cause significant side effects due to damage to healthy tissue.
Sonodynamic therapy represents a promising alternative strategy, as it selectively destroys tumor cells while largely sparing surrounding healthy tissue. The therapy is based on a two-step mechanism: a non-toxic sonosensitizer preferentially accumulates in tumor tissue and is subsequently activated locally by ultrasound. This activation leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species, which selectively damage cancer cells.
However, the clinical development of sonodynamic therapy is currently limited by the lack of suitable sonosensitizers. Many existing compounds exhibit poor water solubility, a tendency to aggregate, and slow clearance from the body. The aim of this project is therefore to develop a new class of sonosensitizers based on ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes, which are characterized by high stability, good solubility, and efficient generation of reactive oxygen species. Using a computational design approach, suitable candidates will be identified, synthesized, and subsequently evaluated through comprehensive chemical and biological studies, including animal models, to advance sonodynamic therapy toward clinical application.