Project: Light Activation of Carbon Dots for Photodynamic Therapy and Drug Release in Pancreatic Cancer

Modulation Of carbon Nanoparticles for pAncReatic Cancer tHerapy (MONARCH).

This project is developing light‑activated carbon dots that can release drugs and selectively kill pancreatic cancer cells, enabling highly precise, non‑invasive treatment of deep‑seated tumours.

Challenge Space

Health Resistance

Prinicipal Investigator(s) and team names

Professor Silvia Giordani (PI), Dr. Diego A. Acevedo Guzman (postdoc)

Collaborating Institutions

Funding support

Research Ireland and Breakthrough Cancer Research Enterprise Fellowship Programme

Project start date

1 February, 2026

End date

31 January, 2028

Problem

Deep-seated pancreatic tumours show severe resistance to single-mode therapeutics and conventional radiation/chemotherapy.

Non-invasive, spatiotemporally controlled therapies are needed to destroy resistant tumour tissues without causing widespread anatomical damage.

Background

Carbon dots are promising carbon-based nanoparticles for bioimaging and targeted delivery due to their small size, low toxicity, intrinsic fluorescence, and high water dispersibility.

Within the Giordani Group, these nanoparticles have demonstrated strong biocompatibility with healthy human cells alongside selective cytotoxicity against targeted cancer cell lines.

Solution

By developing carbon dots for light-activated drug release and localised phototoxicity, we can achieve high-precision, spatiotemporally controlled cell killing to significantly improve the outcomes in pancreatic cancer.