Research Interests

(Stroke, 2024;55(6):1641-9)

Photobiomodulation (PBM) with NIR laser

Pretreatment of the brain with a physical parameter, namely a low-power near-infrared (NIR) laser, improves cerebral blood flow and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation. Transcranial PBM with NIR laser could offer a non-invasive and low-risk therapy for stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.

Relevant Publications

Katagiri W, Lee GH, Tanushi A, Tsukada K, Choi HS*, Kashiwagi S*. Dual near-infrared II laser modulates the cellular redox state of T cells and augments the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. FASEB J, 36, Pp. e22521
Yokomizo S, Roessing M, Morita A, Kopp T, Ogawa E, Katagiri W, Feil S, Huang PL, Atochin DN, Kashiwagi S*. Near-infrared II photobiomodulation augments nitric oxide bioavailability via phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. FASEB J, 2022 36(9):e22490.
Kashiwagi S*, Morita A, Yokomizo S, Ogawa E, Komai E, Huang PL, Bragin DE, Atochin DN. Photobiomodulation and nitric oxide signaling. Nitric Oxide, 2023; 130:58-68.
Yokomizo S, Kopp T, Roessing M, Morita A, Lee S, Cho S, Ogawa E, Komai E, Inoue K, Fukushi M, Feil S, Kim HH, Bragin DE, Gerashchenko D, Huang PL, Kashiwagi S*, Atochin DN*. Near-infrared II photobiomodulation ameliorates stroke injury via phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Stroke, 2024 55(6):1641-1649.
Kashiwagi S*, Yokomizo S, Bragin DE, Perle SJ, Kastanenka KV, Gerashchenko D, Atochin DN. Therapeutic Potentials of Near-Infrared II Photobiomodulation to Treat Cerebrovascular Diseases via Nitric Oxide Signaling. Adv Exp Med Biol, 2024;1463:195-200.

(Biomater Res, 2024; 28:0002)

Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy

We are developing novel near-infrared fluorophores that combine precise tumor targeting with potent phototherapeutic efficacy. Upon low-power laser irradiation, these agents simultaneously trigger photodynamic (PDT) and photothermal (PTT) effects, leading to immunogenic cell death (ICD), dendritic-cell activation, and cytotoxic T-cell recruitment. This synergistic mechanism enhances anti-tumor immunity while minimizing collateral damage, positioning our fluorophores as promising candidates for next-generation, image-guided cancer therapy.

Relevant Publications

Fukuda T, Yokomizo S, Casa S, Monaco H, Manganiello S, Wang H, Lv X, Ulumben AD, Yang C, Kang MW, Inoue K, Fukushi M, Sumi T, Wang C, Kang H, Bao K, Henary M, Kashiwagi S*, Choi HS*. Fast and Durable Intraoperative Near-infrared Imaging of Ovarian Cancer Using Ultrabright Squaraine Fluorophores. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 2022, 61(17): e202117330.
Yokomizo S, Henary M, Buabeng ER, Fukuda T, Monaco H, Yoonji Baek, Sophia Manganiello, Wang H, Kubota J, Ulumben AD, Lv X, Wang C, Inoue K, Fukushi M, Kang H, Bao K, Kashiwagi S*, Choi HS*. Topical pH Sensing NIR Fluorophores for Intraoperative Ovarian Cancer Imaging and Surgery. Adv Sci, 2022, 9(20):e2201416.
Kang H, Kang MW, Kashiwagi S*, Choi HS*. NIR fluorescence imaging and treatment for cancer immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer, 2022;10(7):e004936.
Kashiwagi S*, Choi HS. Ovarian cancer-targeted near-infrared fluorophores for fluorescence-guided surgery. Ann Transl Med, 2023; 11(6):274.
Park GK, Lee JH, Soriano E, Choi M, Bao K, Katagiri W, Kim DY, Paik JH, Yun SH, Frangioni JV, Clancy TE, Kashiwagi S, Henary M, Choi HS. Rapid and selective targeting of heterogeneous pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. iScience, 2020; 23(4):101006.
Ji Y, Jones C, Baek Y, Park GK, Kashiwagi S,* Choi HS.* Near-infrared fluorescence imaging in immunotherapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev, 2020; S0169-409X(20)30058-2.
Bao K, Tully M, Cardenas K, Wang H, Srinivas S, Rho J, Jeon OH, Dinh J, Yokomizo S, McDonnell R, Yamashita A, Kashiwagi S, Kang H, Kim HK, Choi HS. Ultralow Background Near-infrared Fluorophores with Dual-Channel Intraoperative Imaging Capability. Adv Healthc Mater, 2023 e2203134.
Nomura S, Yokomizo S, Wang Z, Kang H, Bao K, Yang C, Rubin BP, Bronson R, Kashiwagi S, Choi HS. CD117-Targeted Intraoperative Imaging of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Using a Stem-Cell-Factor-Labeled Fluorophore. Adv NanoBiomed Res, 2023 230006.
Ji Y, Wang Z, Bao K, Park GK, Kang H, Hu S, McDonald E, Kim MS, Kashiwagi S,* Choi HS.* Targeted molecular imaging of TLR4 in hepatocellular carcinoma using zwitterionic NIR fluorophores. Quant Imaging Med Surg, 2019, 9(9):1548-1555.

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