To develop theranostic microplatforms with following characteristics (i) to have integrated in the photosensitizer and gold bipyramidal-shaped nanoparticles (AuBPs), as a suitable tool for photodynamic/photothermal therapy; (ii) To be decorated with tissue-specific ligands, as VEGFR2 homing peptide, as a specific molecular target for enhancing intracellular uptake;

To release the payload when triggered with an external light and heat source;

To use two human cellular retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cell lines as model systems to (i) the anti-tumor efficacy of the microplatforms optimized in objective 3; (ii) determine the biodistribution and cellular uptake of targeting-microplatorms using optical imaging, FLIM and confocal microscopy.