Nanoparticle Self-Lighting Photodynamic Therapy For Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Nomadics is a research and development company that has been quite successful in developing products for the biomedical market. The majority of our research involves the development of advanced materials that are being exploited for commercial applications. In this effort, we propose a novel method for ovarian cancer treatment that combines radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy. Under this concept, luminescent nanoparticles with attached photosensitizers, such as porphyrins, are used as a new type of agent for photodynamic therapy. Upon exposure to ionizing radiation, light will emit from the nanoparticles to activate the photosensitizers; as a consequence, a singlet oxygen is produced to augment the killing of cancer cells by ionizing radiation. With this novel therapeutic approach, no external light is necessary to activate the photosensitizing agent within tumors. Thus, we call this new modality a self-lighting photodynamic therapy (SLPDT). The combination of radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy will provide a less expensive and more efficient treatment for cancer patients. Our photoluminescent nanoparticles have already demonstrated effective biomedical applications, such as in vivo imaging and dosimetry. The proposed work is a natural extension of our current research and commercialization objectives.