Sungkyunkwan University Researchers Develop Light Activated NDI-COE Agent To Trigger Pyroptosis In Hypoxic Tumors

Researchers develop NDI-COE, a light activated agent that oxidizes water to induce pyroptosis in low oxygen cancer tissues, bypassing traditional therapy limits.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 5:48 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

Engineering a New Path for Photodynamic Therapy

Scientific findings published on January 28, 2026, reveal the development of NDI-COE, a photoactivatable oligoelectrolyte designed to overcome the persistent limitations of conventional cancer treatments. Traditional photodynamic therapy often fails in hypoxic tumor environments due to a lack of available oxygen to generate reactive species. However, a team led by Professor Jin Yong Lee from Sungkyunkwan University has developed a mechanism that allows this agent to function by oxidizing intracellular water instead of relying on oxygen levels.

The Molecular Framework of Water Oxidation

The success of NDI-COE lies in its unique ability to intercalate into the cell membrane where it can directly interact with water molecules. Through Density Functional Theory calculations, the research team demonstrated that the agent forms double hydrogen bonds with water, trapping them with a binding energy of -5.21 kcal/mol. This stable interaction ensures that the water molecules are perfectly positioned for the photochemical reaction that follows light irradiation, transforming the cellular environment into a localized site of therapeutic activity.

Enhancing Photochemical Reactivity Through Spin Orbit Coupling

Molecular analysis indicates that NDI-COE possesses a significantly higher efficiency for transitioning into a reactive triplet state compared to traditional agents. The researchers found that the spin orbit coupling efficiency was approximately 7.5 times higher than control groups, measured at 2.87 cm-1. This heightened reactivity is crucial for the agent's performance, as it allows for a more efficient transfer of energy once the molecule is activated by light, leading to the rapid generation of the reactive species necessary to compromise the cancer cell.