Theragnostics has emerged as an ultimate technique of cancer treatment that combines imaging-guided diagnosis and therapy. The CHARACTER goal is to create and validate experimentally multifunctional fluorophore that will enable less invasive all-optical theragnostic. It is made of diamond nanoneedles doped with nitrogen, silicon, and other atoms, which make optical properties of diamond very sensitive to the temperature change. We will combine temperature sensing with modern imaging techniques. Furthermore, according to our estimations, cancer cells accumulating the needles can be destructed under irradiation with near-infrared light pulses without damaging healthy tissue. In the mid-to-long-term time frame, CHARACTER scientific breakthroughs are to provide direct benefits for the European society and citizens by offering early diagnostics and therapy of cancer that will change the trajectory of disease, enhancing the health, and wellbeing.

2023

2027