Generation of novel near-infrared photoimmunotheranostics (NIR-PIT) against solid tumors

Recently, we have developed NIR-based PIT agents with the ability to detect and eliminate cancer of different entities, including ovarian, breast, pancreatic and skin cancers. Here, a panel of NIR-PIT agents were generated by conjugating single chain antibody fragments (scFv) against cancer-associated cell surface antigens to the highly potent NIR phototheranostic agent IRDye700DX phthalocyanine using SNAP-tag technology. Each of the components of these NIR-PIT agents had minimal toxicity when presented alone, thus toxicity was achieved only when the components were applied together at the appropriate place and time. This approach could facilitate patient pre-screening, real-time treatment monitoring and in situ or on-demand drug activation as well as longitudinally quantifying the efficacy of treatment.