Team
Cancer Targets and Experimental Therapeutics

Dpt: Microenvironment, cell plasticity and signalling

Our research activities

Our main objective is to define theranostic nano-vectors for the treatment of cancer, and in parallel to develop the corresponding medical devices to investigate them.

We develop nanoparticles (NP) that are 1/ detectable in the near-infrared windows (NIR I and NIR II (or SWIR)) and/or 2/ therapeutically active. More specifically, these NP are defined to escape the resistance mechanisms usually set up by tumors. For example, the NP we are investigating are designed to deliver drugs and/or potentiate the effect of photo- and thermal-therapies upon light excitation or radiation therapies, upon X-rays or neutrons excitations.

The fluorescent NPs we are developing are also used by our team of surgical oncologists and reconstructive surgeons to perform optically-guided surgery.

In parallel, we develop the instrumentation to detect and monitor these NPs using diagnostic instruments (LIBS; Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) or in vivo visualization tools (Fluorescence Reflectance Imaging, NIR/SWIR Tomography).

Before considering a transfer to the clinic, the nano-vectors and instrumentation we develop are evaluated in vitro in 2D and 3D (microtumors ± microfluidics) before being tested in chicken embryo models or in preclinical cancer models grown in rodents.

Finally, all these technologies are made available to the scientific community via our nationally recognized small animal imaging platform (OPTIMAL) that is part of the IBISA and France Life Imaging (FLI) programs.

Our research is conducted in an interdisciplinary environment where biologists collaborate with chemists, physicists, biotechnology companies and clinical teams.

Jean-Luc COLL

Team leader

04 76 74 86 81

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Our research axes

We design various types of fluorescent NP, including some that can be detected in the NIR I or NIR II windows. The anti-cancer effects of these nano-vectors are triggered by X-Rays, Neutrons or Light excitation delivered on the tumor site. These NPs are either metal nanoclusters, nanoscintillators, boron-containing NP or activatable liposomes that can induce x-ray dose-enhancement (RDE), radiosensitization, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), photodynamic therapy (PDT) or radiotherapy-triggered drug release.

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We characterize the interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironment in order to identify therapeutic targets and to define new therapies and/or therapeutic combinations. We study in particular the EGFR, IGFR and integrins pathways and we develop basic, applied and translational research activities towards the clinic by relying on the dermatology department of the Grenoble Alpes University Hospital.

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We develop NIR and photoacoustic imaging instruments for in vivo applications. The NIR I and NIR II optical windows enable deep non-invasive imaging, allowing us to probe physiological and molecular processes at high resolution. For diagnostic purposes we are developing LIBS (laser induced breakdown spectroscopy) elemental microscopy to image the chemical composition of tissue sections. Elemental maps can be obtained in particular for detection of metallic nanoparticles.

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Our major publications

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Combined physical and biological contributions to radiotherapy enhancement by Lu-based nanoscintillators in pancreatic cancer models.

Stelse-Masson, S., Lytvynenko, X., Bedregal-Portugal, K., Aubrun, C., Lavaud, M., Kadri, M., Jacquet, T., Moriscot,…

Nanotheranostics 2025 Methods: In this paper, we study the ability of Lu 3 Al 5 O 12: Pr@ SiO 2, a lutetium-based nanoscintillator, to exert a radiation dose-enhancement effect in two human pancreatic cancer cell models, namely PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2. Results: Lu 3 Al 5 O 12:

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In vivo vectorization and delivery systems for gene therapies and RNA-based therapeutics in oncology

Schock Vaiani, J. Broekgaarden, M. Coll, J. L. Sancey, L. Busser, B.

Nanoscale 2025 Gene and RNA-based therapeutics represent a promising frontier in oncology, enabling targeted modulation of tumor-associated genes and proteins. This review explores the latest advances in payload vectorization and delivery systems developed for in vivo c

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Monomer Versus Dimer of Cationic Ir(III) Complexes for Photodynamic Therapy by Two-Photon Activation: A Comparative Study.

Barta, A., Vanwonterghem, L., Lavaud, M., Molton, F., Micouin, G., Bulin, A. L., Banyasz, A.,…

ACS Appl Bio Mater 2025 Iridium(III) complexes have been recognized as promising candidates for two-photon sensitized photodynamic therapy (PDT). In this context, we report on the study of two complexes: a monomer (IrL(1)) and a dimer (Ir(2)L(2)). Both complexes possess 2-phenyl

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Multifunctional micro/nano-textured titanium with bactericidal, osteogenic, angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties: Insights from in vitro and in vivo studies

Ziegelmeyer, T. Martins de Sousa, K. Liao, T. Y. Lartizien, R. Delay, A. Vollaire, J.…

Mater Today Bio 2025 Titanium (Ti) is widely used as an implantable material for bone repair in orthopedics and dentistry. However, Ti implants are vulnerable to bacterial infections, which can compromise patient recovery and lead to implant failure. While a controlled inflam

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Self-Assembled Peptide-Gold Nanoclusters with SiRNA Targeting Telomeric Response to Enhance Radiosensitivity in Lung Cancer Cells

Moro, S., Omrani, M., Erbek, S., Jourdan, M., Vandekerckhove, C. I., Nogier, C., Vanwonterghem, L.,…

Small Science 2025 Lung cancer cells resistant to radiotherapy present a significant clinical challenge. Stable telomeric structures, maintained by the TRF2 protein, play a critical role in protecting cells from ionizing radiation. Reduced TRF2 expression increases DNA dama

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The physicochemical and biochemical mechanisms of porphyrinoid-mediated radiodynamic therapy.

Leo, S., Carigga Gutierrez, N. M., Bulin, A. L., Coll, J. L., Sancey, L., Habermeyer,…

Eur J Med Chem 2025 Radiotherapy is the standard treatment for nearly 60 % of cancer patients. Despite advancements such as brachytherapy, stereotactic radiotherapy, and intensity-modulated radiotherapy, further improvements in efficacy and safety are needed. Radiodynamic th

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Engineering Radiocatalytic Nanoliposomes with Hydrophobic Gold Nanoclusters for Radiotherapy Enhancement

Carigga Gutierrez, N. M. Clainche, T. L. Bulin, A. L. Leo, S. Kadri, M. Abdelhamid,…

Adv Mater 2024 Chemoradiation therapy is on the forefront of pancreatic cancer care, and there is a continued effort to improve its safety and efficacy. Liposomes are widely used to improve chemotherapy safety, and may accurately deliver high-Z element- radiocatalytic n

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Nanoscintillator Coating: A Key Parameter That Strongly Impacts Internalization, Biocompatibility, and Therapeutic Efficacy in Pancreatic Cancer Models

Aubrun Fulbert, Clémentine Chaput, Frédéric Stelse‐Masson, Sarah Henry, Maxime Chovelon, Benoit Bohic, Sylvain Brueckner, Dennis…

Small Science 2024 Pancreatic cancer is associated with a poor prognosis despite multimodal treatments. To improve the efficacy of radiotherapy, the use of nanoscintillators is emerging. Made of high-Z elements, they absorb X-rays more efficiently than tissues and can local

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Quantifying Titanium Exposure in Lung Tissues: A Novel Laser‐Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Elemental Imaging‐Based Analytical Framework for Biomedical Application

Gardette, V. Sancey, L. Leprince, M. Gaté, L. Cosnier, F. Seidel, C. Valentino, S. Pelascini,…

Small Science 2024 Occupational and environmental exposures, particularly those related to urban and suburban atmospheres, are increasingly linked to a range of pulmonary diseases. While diagnostic methods for these diseases are well established, analytical tools for assess

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NIR-II Aza-BODIPY Dyes Bioconjugated to Monoclonal Antibody Trastuzumab for Selective Imaging of HER2-Positive Ovarian Cancer.

Godard, A., Kalot, G., Privat, M., Bendellaa, M., Busser, B., Wegner, K. D., Denat, F.,…

J Med Chem 2023 Using fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) to cytoreductive surgery helps achieving complete resection of microscopic ovarian tumors. The use of visible and NIR-I fluorophores has led to beneficial results in clinical trials; however, involving NIR-II dyes s

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