Molecular Imaging Chemistry Lab

Our lab's main focus is the development of tools for molecular imaging and photodynamic therapy. One of our most exciting current avenues of research is the development on novel lipoprotein-based nanoplatforms for the delivery of diverse therapeutic/diagnostic agents. We also design "PDT beacons", activatable photodynamic therapy agents that can be tailored to report their own therapeutic outcome in vivo. Our development of smarter probes for imaging and PDT will hopefully lead to further advancements in both cancer detection and treatment.

Members of our lab, seen on the left, come from all over the world and have varying backgrounds. We are currently collaborating with several groups, both inside and outside of the university. Our lab is located in the 1958 wing of the Chemistry Building at the University of Pennsylvania.

Upon exposure to tumor specific mRNA, the beacon opens, separating the PDT agent from the quencher and allowing both singlet oxygen generation and fluorescence. The singlet oxygen then triggers apoptosis, killing the cell. PDT beacons can also be designed with a peptide linkage that is cleaved in the tumor microenvironment.

Above are images of photosensitizer delivery to folate-positive tumor cells. The tumor is clearly visible within 24 hrs.

 

Current Members

  • Gang Zheng, Ph. D. (State University of New York at Buffalo), gang.zheng@uphs.upenn.edu
  • Weiguo Cao, Ph. D. (Shanghai University), andrewcao2002@yahoo.com.cn
  • Juan Chen, Ph. D. (Research Insitute for Petroleum Processing), juan.chen@uphs.upenn.edu
  • Ian Corbin, Ph.D. (University of Manitoba), ian.corbin@uphs.upenn.edu
  • Hui Li, Ph. D. (Peking University), hui@rad.upenn.edu
  • Diane Marotta, Ph. D. (State University of New York at Stony Brook), marottad@mail.med.upenn.edu
  • Anatoliy Popov, Ph. D. (Russian Academy of Sciences), avpopov@sas.upenn.edu
  • Liping Song, Ph.D. (East China University of Science and Technology), lpsong0916@yahoo.com.cn
  • Klara Stefflova, M.S. (Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague), stefflok@sas.upenn.edu
  • Michael Sloan Warren, Undergraduate (University of Pennsylvania), mswarren@sas.upenn.edu

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    Selected Recent Publications

    Zheng G*, Li H, Zhang M, Chance B, Glickson JD. Low-density lipoprotein reconstituted by pyropheophorbode cholesteryl oleate as target specific photosensitizer, Bioconjugate Chem. 2002, 13:392-396.

    Zhang M, Zhang ZH, Blessington D, Li H, Busch TM, Madrak V, Miles J, Chance B, Glickson JD and Zheng G*, Pyropheophorbide 2-deoxyglucosamide: a new photosensitizer targeting glucose transporters. Bioconjugate Chem. 2003, 14: 709-714.

    Zhang ZH, Blessington D, Busch TM, Glickson JD, Luo QM, Chance B and Zheng G*, Redox ratio of mitochondria as an indicator for the response of Photodynamic Therapy. J. Biomed. Optics 2004, 9: 772-778.

    Chen J, Stefflova K, Neidre M, Wilson B, Chance B, Glickson JD, Zheng G*, Protease-Triggered Photosensitizing Beacon Based on Singlet Oxygen Quenching and Activation, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126: 11450 - 11451.

    Li H, Marotta D, Kim S, Busch TM, Wileyto EP, Zheng G*, High Payload Delivery of Optical Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy Agents to Tumors Using Phthalocyanine-Reconstituted LDL Nanoparticles, J. Biomed. Optics 2005, 10:41203.

    Zheng G*, Chen J, Li H, Glickson JD, Rerouting Lipoprotein Nanoparticles to Selected Alternate Receptor for the Targeted Delivery of Cancer Diagnostic and Therapeutic Agents, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2005, 102: 17757-17762.