STTR Phase I: Flexible Quantum Dot Light Emitting Devices for Photodynamic Therapy and Photobiomodulation

这个小型企业技术转让(STTR)第一阶段项目的更广泛影响是使各种光医学疗法能够得到更广泛的采用。广义地说，光医学疗法利用光来治愈疾病和促进愈合。具体地说，光动力疗法使用光来激活光敏化学试剂，以最小的副作用杀死癌细胞或细菌。此外，光生物调节是将光应用于受损或功能失调的组织，以减轻疼痛和炎症，加速愈合，促进或抑制各种细胞过程。光源是任何光医学治疗系统的关键部件。现有的光源，如激光和LED阵列，体积大且价格昂贵，通常需要额外的光学元件才能将光传输到目标治疗区域。目前的项目旨在开发一种基于新型光源-量子点光发射器件(QLED)的光医学治疗系统。柔性和大面积的QLED可以直接放置在目标治疗区域附近，而不需要额外的光学装置。其简单的驱动程序要求将导致系统成本大大降低，并便于在家中使用。这些基于QLED的系统将使光医学治疗方法得到更广泛的采用，包括在目前服务不足的地区和患者群体中。拟议的项目将利用最近发明的超亮量子点发光器件(QLED)进入低成本和方便使用的光医学治疗系统，该系统将使光医学治疗方法能够更广泛地应用于各种病理和用例。项目任务包括开发发射光谱精确可调以匹配光敏剂在630纳米(Nm)、635 nm和660 nm的吸收光谱的QLED；在具有微腔模拟指导的器件结构的柔性基板上制造QLED；开发能够提供精确光剂量的低直流电压、电流控制驱动器；以及利用口腔癌症的体外3D共培养模型，展示所开发的QLED在口腔恶性肿瘤的Ala-PplX光动力疗法和相关剂量学中的光医学功效；B)确定和优化用于伤口愈合应用的光生物调节参数，包括伤口和压迫性溃疡伤口，体外使用多种细胞系和细胞代谢、细胞增殖和划痕伤口愈合模型。成功完成这些任务将产生一个功能性的初步光医学治疗系统，为项目第二阶段口腔癌症或糖尿病伤口愈合治疗范例的体内动物研究奠定基础。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to enable a much wider adoption of various photomedical treatments. Broadly speaking, photomedical treatments use light to cure diseases and promote healing. Specifically, photodynamic therapy uses light to activate a photosensitizing chemical agent to kill cancer cells or bacterial with minimal side effects. Moreover, photobiomodulation is the application of light to impaired or dysfunctional tissue to reduce pain and inflammation to speed healing and to promote or inhibit various cellular processes. The light source is a critical part of any photomedical treatment system. Existing sources such as lasers and LED arrays are bulky and expensive, generally require additional optics to deliver the light to the target treatment areas. The current project aims to develop a photomedical treatment system based on a novel light source - quantum dot light emitting devices (QLEDs). Flexible and large area QLEDs can be placed immediately adjacent to target treatment areas without additional optics. Their simple driver requirements will result in much lower system costs and facilitate at-home use. These QLED-based systems will enable the wider adoption of photomedical treatment methodologies, including in currently underserved areas and patient populations.The proposed project will leverage the recent invention of ultra-bright quantum dot light emitting devices (QLEDs) into a low-cost and convenient-to-use photomedical treatment system that will enable wider adoption of photomedical treatment methodologies for a variety of pathologies and use cases. Project tasks include developing QLEDs with emitting spectra precisely tuned to match the absorption spectra of photosensitizers at 630 nanometers (nm), 635 nm and 660 nm; fabricating QLEDs on flexible substrates with device structures guided by microcavity simulations; developing a low DC voltage, current-controlled driver able to deliver a precise light dosage; and demonstrating the photomedical efficacy of thus developed QLEDs in a) ALA-PplX photodynamic therapy and associated dosimetry of oral malignancies using in-vitro 3D co-culture models of oral cancers; b) determining and optimizing parameters for photobiomodulation for wound healing applications including incisional and pressure ulcer wounds, in-vitro using multiple cell lines and models of cellular metabolism, cellular proliferation and scratch wound healing. Successful completion of these tasks will result in a functional preliminary photomedical treatment system that lays the foundation for in-vivo animal studies of oral cancer or diabetic wound healing treatment paradigms in Phase II of the project.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.