Hyperthermia Therapeutic Agent Delivery System

Abstract

A medical delivery system that enables the delivery of therapeutic agents to malignant tissue utilizing delivery agents and heating of the delivery agents thereby causing the release of the therapeutic agents within the tumor is disclosed. The therapeutic agents may be chemotherapy agents, radiation therapy agents, and other appropriate materials. The magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated by the therapeutic agents in a biocompatible coating may be delivered to tumor sites utilizing attenuated strains of bacteria that seek and reside at tumor sites. An alternating magnetic field device with a prescribed frequency range may be used to induce heating of the magnetic nanoparticles in the patient thereby melting the coating and releasing the therapeutic agents within the tumor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 970,566, filed Sep. 7, 2007, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 971,286, filed Sep. 11, 2007 and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 027,449, filed Feb. 9, 2008, all of which are incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention is directed to a therapeutic agent delivery system, and more particularly, to a therapeutic agent delivery system that enables a therapeutic agent to be delivered safely to a tumor via a bloodstream and released within the tumor when exposed to an alternating magnetic field.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Reports of advances in the creation of therapeutic agents for cancer treatment have increased in recent years. Nevertheless, the ability to localize chemotherapy agents at the tumor sites has been hindered by adverse toxicity to the normal tissue. The challenges of enfor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a system for delivering therapeutic agents to tumors in humans or animals using magnetic nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are attached to bacteria that can enter tumors and release the therapeutic agents when exposed to an alternating magnetic field. The system can be used regardless of the resistance of the tumor cells to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The use of magnetic nanoparticles allows for the delivery of multiple therapeutic agents and can be activated at the tumor site using a noninvasive method. The system reduces the risk of toxic reactions and combines hyperthermia with other treatments to increase treatment benefits.

Problems solved by technology

Nevertheless, the ability to localize chemotherapy agents at the tumor sites has been hindered by adverse toxicity to the normal tissue.

The challenges of enforcing residence of the drug carriers at the tumor site have not been efficiently met by the existing technology.

Additionally, the inability to control the release of drugs while at the tumor site is a major reason for the lack of efficiency of existing targeted drug delivery systems.

Low oxygen levels in human tumors, referred to as hypoxia, have been linked to failure in achieving local tumor control through ionizing radiation.

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