Use of photoluminescent nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy
First Claim
1. A composition for administration to a patient that is useful in photodynamic therapy in the patient, said composition comprising a carrier and a plurality of light-emitting nanoparticles that emit light having a first wavelength which activates a photodynamic therapy drug which absorbs light of said first wavelength, said light-emitting nanoparticles being present in said carrier in a quantity that is effective to activate said photodynamic therapy drug upon illumination with light from a light source emitting a second wavelength of light.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are compositions and methods that can be used to effect a photodynamic therapy (PDT) such as cancer treatment or gene transcription. Compositions include light-emitting nanoparticles that absorb light of one wavelength emitted by a light source and emit light of another wavelength that activates a PDT drug. Light-emitting nanoparticles include quantum dots, nanocrystals, and quantum rods as well as mixtures of these nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be delivered to a patient in a liquid carrier or as part of a solid carrier such as a biocompatible polymeric film, a polymeric sheath, or other carrier suitable for introduction at the site to be treated. In one embodiment of the invention, light-emitting nanoparticles are localized at the treatment site by either joining them to the PDT drug covalently or non-covalently through linkage groups such as biotin/avidin, or the nanoparticles are localized at the treatment site by attaching the nanoparticles to a linkage group that has affinity for e.g. cells or proteins produced at the site to the treated. A sufficient number of light-emitting nanoparticles are delivered to the treatment site to activate the PDT drug and effect treatment.
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Citations
136 Claims
- 1. A composition for administration to a patient that is useful in photodynamic therapy in the patient, said composition comprising a carrier and a plurality of light-emitting nanoparticles that emit light having a first wavelength which activates a photodynamic therapy drug which absorbs light of said first wavelength, said light-emitting nanoparticles being present in said carrier in a quantity that is effective to activate said photodynamic therapy drug upon illumination with light from a light source emitting a second wavelength of light.
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9. A mixture of light emitting nanoparticles adapted for use in photodynamic therapy, wherein said mixture comprises a first plurality of light-emitting nanoparticles that absorb light at a first wavelength and emit light at a second wavelength;
- a second plurality of light-emitting nanoparticles that absorb light at a third wavelength and emit light at fourth wavelength, said fourth wavelength differing from said second wavelength; and
a carrier that is suitable to administer to a human patient;
wherein said first plurality of light-emitting nanoparticles is present in said carrier in a sufficiently large number to activate a first PDT drug molecule upon administration to said patient; and
wherein said second plurality of light-emitting nanoparticles is present in said carrier in a sufficiently large number to activate a second PDT drug molecule upon administration to said patient. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
- a second plurality of light-emitting nanoparticles that absorb light at a third wavelength and emit light at fourth wavelength, said fourth wavelength differing from said second wavelength; and
- 10. A conjugate for administration to a patient that is useful in photodynamic therapy in the patient, said conjugate comprising a light-emitting nanoparticle linked to a photodynamic therapy drug.
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12. A conjugate providing sufficient illuminance to activate a photosensitive drug, said conjugate comprising a plurality of light-emitting nanoparticles linked to a polymeric backbone.
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14. A method for photodynamic therapy, comprising:
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administering a therapeutically effective amount of a photosensitive drug to a treatment area, wherein said photosensitive drug absorbs light of a first wavelength;
administering a therapeutically effective quantity of light-emitting nanoparticles to said treatment area, wherein said nanoparticles absorb light of a second wavelength and emit light of said first wavelength and wherein said therapeutically effective quantity of the light-emitting nanoparticles provides sufficient light of the first wavelength upon irradiation with light of the second wavelength to cause the photosensitive drug to effect said therapy; and
illuminating the treatment area with light from a light source that emits light of said second wavelength, thereby causing the light-emitting nanoparticles to emit light of the first wavelength.
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28. A method for photodynamic therapy, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a conjugate to a patient, wherein said conjugate comprises a light-emitting nanoparticle linked to a photosensitive compound.
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30. A method for photodynamic therapy, comprising:
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administering a therapeutically effective amount of a photosensitive compound to a patient; and
administering a biocompatible matrix composed of a solid material to a treatment area of said patient, wherein said matrix includes a therapeutically effective quantity of nanoparticles. - View Dependent Claims (31, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 120, 121, 123, 124, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136)
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32. An illumination system for activating a photodynamic therapy drug, said illumination system comprising
a) a light source; -
b) an optical fiber positioned to receive light generated by the light source and transmit said light toward an end of the optical fiber; and
c) a total internal reflection lens positioned so that said lens receives light from the optical fiber and transmits light from said lens. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An illumination system for activating a photodynamic therapy drug, said illumination system comprising:
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a) a light source adapted to transmit light of a second wavelength to a treatment site of a patient; and
b) a quantity of nanoparticles that emit light having a first wavelength upon illumination by said light source. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 49, 50)
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47. A kit for photodynamic therapy in a patient, wherein the kit comprises a packaged combination of light-emitting nanoparticles that emit light of a first wavelength when illuminated by light of a second wavelength and an optical fiber which transmits light of said second wavelength.
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48. A kit for photodynamic therapy in a patient, wherein the kit comprises a packaged combination of light-emitting nanoparticles that emit light of a first wavelength when illuminated by light of a second wavelength and a first photodynamic therapy drug that is activated by the light of the first wavelength.
Specification