Laser Catheter Photothermal Ablation With Nanoparticle Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current photon-based therapies for thermal and radiative ablation in cancer treatment face challenges such as low selectivity in targeting tissues, high power requirements leading to instrument damage, and non-specific tissue destruction, including healthy tissue.
Innovation Solution
The use of nanoparticles, such as gold nanoshells, that absorb infrared radiation and convert it into heat energy, combined with a laser catheter system that delivers non-ablative radiation to selectively target and ablate tumor tissues while preserving healthy tissue function, using a controlled coolant system to prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high power laser radiation is used for ablation therapy, then ablation effectiveness is improved, but instrument damage and tissue destruction increase
Solution Approach 1:
Nanoparticles (gold nanoshells, iron oxide particles) are introduced as intermediary agents that absorb laser radiation and convert it to heat, which then transfers to target tissues. This intermediary mechanism allows effective energy transfer at lower laser powers, reducing direct laser exposure damage to instruments and surrounding healthy tissues while maintaining ablation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the treatment system by introducing nanoparticle contrast agents that alter the absorption characteristics of target tissues. These nanoparticles have specific optical properties that enable selective absorption of laser wavelengths, allowing precise control of energy deposition parameters and reducing harmful side effects.
2Productivity
If conventional laser therapy is used, then tissue ablation is achieved, but selectivity in targeting tissues is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Nanoparticles are selectively accumulated in target tissues through passive targeting (EPR effect in tumors) or active targeting (ligand-receptor binding). This creates local concentration differences, where target tissues have high nanoparticle concentration and surrounding healthy tissues have low concentration, enabling selective heating and ablation of only the target areas when laser radiation is applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the optical absorption properties (analogous to color) of nanoparticles at specific laser wavelengths. Gold nanoshells, iron oxide particles, and other nanomaterials have characteristic absorption spectra that can be tuned to match laser sources, creating selective optical interaction with nanoparticle-containing tissues while allowing light to pass through non-target tissues.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the selectivity and precision of tissue treatment, allowing for targeted photothermal coagulation and ablation of tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue and reducing instrument degradation.
Implementation Method 1
The use of nanoparticles, such as gold nanoshells, that absorb infrared radiation and convert it into heat energy
Implementation Method 2
using a controlled coolant system to prevent overheating
Implementation Method 3
a laser catheter system that delivers non-ablative radiation to selectively target and ablate tumor tissues
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2A-2
Figure 2B
AI summary
Various methods, systems, and devices for treating tissue ablation are disclosed. Some embodiments disclosed herein pertain to methods of treating tumors, systems used for irradiating tissue and tumors with electromagnetic radiation, components and devices of that system, and kits for providing systems used for irradiating tissue and tumors with electromagnetic radiation. In some embodiments, the system provides sub-ablative infrared radiation that is absorbed by nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the nanoparticles absorb the radiation converting it into heat energy. In some embodiments, though the infrared radiation itself may be sub-ablative, the heat energy generated by the nanoparticles is sufficient to cause thermal coagulation, hyperthermia, and/or tissue ablation.