Despite advances in reperfusion therapies, a high percentage of people who suffer a myocardial infarction develop extensive cardiac damage that compromises long-term heart function. This project proposes the use of light-controlled drugs, administered intracardially during primary angioplasty and activated at the desired time. This approach enables precise spatial and temporal control of pharmacological activity, reducing tissue damage and the risk of heart failure and arrhythmias. The aim of the project is to develop a drug that improves the prognosis of patients with myocardial infarction and, consequently, their quality of life, reduces healthcare costs, and paves the way for new therapeutic applications in other pathologies.
Enfermedad Archives
Deciphering the role of intracellular GPCRs in cardiac cells through photopharmacological strategies
Cells continuously adapt to their environment through complex internal communication systems. In the heart, certain receptors are essential for maintaining balanced activity, and when they fail, cardiovascular diseases can develop. However, a complete understanding of how their cellular localization influences these processes is still lacking. In the CardioLight project, we address this question by developing innovative molecules that can be controlled with light, enabling the activation or deactivation of cellular activity with high precision. This strategy opens the possibility of modulating cardiac function in a selective and reversible manner. As we provide new insights into these mechanisms in living systems, we will lay the groundwork for safer and more effective therapies.