SBIR Phase I: Device for the Activation of Nanoparticle-based Cancer Therapies

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）一期研究项目将开发一种用于体内激活纳米颗粒的设备，用于实体肿瘤的微创治疗，以及对潜在转移扩散途径的预防性治疗，同时对周围组织的损害最小。纳米壳是一种新型的纳米颗粒，可以被设计成吸收近红外波段的光，而组织对近红外波段的吸收能力最低。先前的纳米壳研究已经证明了它对一种重要的新型癌症治疗方法的前景。然而，这种新型材料的光学和热特性，这些特性与人体组织光学特性的相互作用，特别是在近红外波长下的相互作用，还没有得到很好的理解。第一阶段的研究将首先确定这种新型材料在体内的特性，然后优化激光功率、激光脉冲特性（重复率、持续时间和占空比）和光纤传输模式。该项目的商业应用将在癌症治疗领域。基于纳米壳的治疗有望用于广泛的癌症类型，相对于其他治疗具有显著的优势。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I research project will develop a device for the in-vivo activation of nanoparticles for the minimally-invasive treatment of solid tumors and for the prophylactic treatment of potential routes of metastatic spread with minimal damage to surrounding tissues. Nanoshells are a new class of nanoparticles that can be designed to absorb light in the near-infrared, wavelengths where tissue is minimally absorptive. Prior nanoshell research has demonstrated its promise for a significant new class of cancer therapies. However, the optical and thermal properties of this new class of materials, the interaction of these properties with the optical properties of human tissue, and, in particular, this interaction at near-infrared wavelengths, are not well understood. This Phase I research will first determine the properties of this new class of materials in vivo and then optimize laser power, laser pulse characteristics (repetition rate, duration and duty cycle), and fiber optic delivery modes.The commercial application of this project will be in the area of cancer therapy. The nanoshell-based therapy is expected to be useful for a broad range of cancer types, with significant advantages relative to other treatments.