sst |
Polypyridyl transition metal complexes for antineoplastic applications: from photophysics to advanced cellular studies by Noémie Chantry -
Vendredi 11 septembre 2026 à 15h00 - Auditoire LAVO51 - Bâtiment Lavoisier - Place Louis Pasteur, 1 - 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve -
Cancer has been at the center of medical research for over a century. Despite major breakthroughs, one key limitation remains: the lack of selectivity of most treatments. To address this issue, new therapeutic approaches based on targeting strategies have emerged. Among them, photodynamic therapy (PDT) relies on the spatial and temporal selectivity of light activation to induce cytotoxic effects.
Like any therapeutic approach, PDT faces several limitations ranging from cellular uptake to photoactivation and biological response. However, these aspects are often investigated independently, leading to a fragmented understanding of the relationships between molecular design, photophysics, biological response, and biodistribution.
In this context, this Ph.D. thesis explored these different levels through a bottom-up strategy, starting from molecular design and photophysical properties, then extending to cellular response, and finally to delivery and subcellular targeting strategies. The results highlighted how subtle molecular modifications can profoundly affect these levels, leading to drastic changes in photophysical deactivation pathways, influencing cell death mechanisms, and modulating encapsulation efficiency.
Overall, this doctoral work underlines the need for a multi-scale and interdisciplinary approach to establish more predictive structure-property relationships and develop more tailored therapeutic strategies.
Jury members :
Prof. Benjamin Elias (UCLouvain) (Supervisor)
Prof. Michel Devillers (UCLouvain) (Chairperson)
Prof. Sophie Demoustier (UCLouvain) (Secretary)
Prof. Yann Garcia (UCLouvain)
Prof. Susan Quinn (University College Dublin)
Prof. Eric Defrancq (Université Grenoble Alpes)
Pay attention : the public defense of Noémie Chantry will also take place in the form of a videoconference
