Disclosed are methods of using focused acoustic waves for providing non-invasive sonodynamic therapy. The method includes acoustically coupling an array of piezoelectric transducers to a patient. A controller is configured to generate an electrical drive signal at a frequency selected from a range of frequencies, modulate the drive signal, and drive the transducer with the modulated drive signal at the frequency to produce modulated acoustic waves to produce an average acoustic intensity sufficient to activate a sonosensitizer in a treatment region without damaging healthy cells in the treatment region.

Disclosed are methods of using planar or defocused acoustic waves for providing non-invasive sonodynamic therapy. The method includes acoustically coupling an array of piezoelectric transducers to a patient. A controller is configured to generate an electrical drive signal at a frequency selected from a range of frequencies, modulate the drive signal, and drive the transducer with the modulated drive signal at the frequency to produce modulated acoustic waves to produce an average acoustic intensity sufficient to activate a sonosensitizer in a treatment region without damaging healthy cells in the treatment region.

Disclosed are methods of producing ultrasound waves for providing sonodynamic therapy. The method includes coupling a sonodynamic therapy device with an array of piezoelectric transducer elements to a skin surface. A controller is configured to generate an electrical drive signal to produce ultrasound waves to activate a sonosensitizer in a treatment region without damaging healthy cells in the treatment region.

Methods of treating tumors by administering compounds to a patient are provided. Compounds such as pro drugs, e.g., 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), may be administered to the patient orally, by injection, intravenously, or topically, which then accumulate preferentially as compounds such as protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in tumor cells. After such accumulation, compounds such as PpIX are then activated in various aspects to treat tumors cells, thereby treating cancer. Cancers such as glioblastoma may be treated.

Products, compositions, systems, and methods for modifying a target structure which mediates or is associated with a biological activity, including treatment of conditions, disorders, or diseases mediated by or associated with a target structure, such as a virus, cell, subcellular structure or extracellular structure. The methods may be performed in situ in a non-invasive manner by placing a nanoparticle having a metallic shell on at least a fraction of a surface in a vicinity of a target structure in a subject and applying an initiation energy to a subject thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure directly or via a modulation agent. The nanoparticle is configured, upon exposure to a first wavelength λ.sub.1, to generate a second wavelength λ.sub.2 of radiation having a higher energy than the first wavelength λ.sub.1. The methods may further be performed by application of an initiation energy to a subject in situ to activate a pharmaceutical agent directly or via an energy modulation agent, optionally in the presence of one or more plasmonics active agents, thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure. Kits containing products or compositions formulated or configured and systems for use in practicing these methods.

Composition for photodynamic therapy comprising a photosensitiser in combination with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and epigallocatechin galate (EGCG), in pharmacologically acceptable carriers and/or excipients. The photosensitising compounds are selected from protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) precursors, such as methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) or aminolevulinic acid (ALA). These new formulations show an enhancing effect of the effect of the photosensitising compounds, MAL or ALA for example, which ensures a greater efficiency of photodynamic therapy, in the treatment of skin or mucous membranes. In one application, the invention is useful in the resolution of long-term preneoplastic or neoplastic dermatological lesions, decreasing the recurrence rates of these lesions.

The present invention relates to a method for producing an alginic acid-folic acid conjugate, an alginic acid-folic acid conjugate produced thereby, and a pharmaceutical composition containing the same. According to the method of producing an alginic acid-folic acid conjugate using a carboxy-protecting group and a leaving group, the hydroxyl group of alginic acid forms an ester group with the carboxyl group of folic acid. Thus, the alginic acid-folic acid conjugate may clearly distinguish cancer cells from normal tissue by more effectively targeting cancer cells than a conventional alginic acid-conjugated folic acid in which the amine group of folic acid is covalently bonded to the carboxyl group of alginic acid. Accordingly, the alginic acid-folic acid conjugate may be effectively used for precise diagnosis and efficient surgical resection of cancer lesions.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a nanocarrier in a micelle structure, a pharmaceutical composition for diagnosis of cancer, comprising the same nanocarrier, and a method for preparing the same nanocarrier. The nanocarrier is obtained by dispersing a water-in-oil nanoemulsion containing an oil phase ingredient, a surfactant, and an aqueous phase ingredient inclusive of a cancer cell fluorescence-inducing substance and a cancer cell-targeting polysaccharide in water to remove the oil phase ingredient, whereby the nanocarrier includes the aqueous phase ingredient.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for photoeradication of microorganisms from a target. The method includes the step of obtaining test data for a plurality of experiments each of which comprises irradiating test microorganisms with a plurality of light pulses having a wavelength that ranges from 380 nm to 500 nm. The light pulses have a plurality of pulse parameters (peak irradiance, pulse duration, and off time between adjacent light pulses) and are provided at a radiant exposure that ranges from 0.5 J/cm.sup.2 to 60 J/cm.sup.2 during each of a plurality of irradiation sessions. The test data comprises a survival rate for the test microorganisms after irradiation with the light pulses. The method also includes the step of analyzing the test data to identify the pulse parameters for the light pulses and the radiant exposure for each of the irradiation sessions that result in a desired survival rate for the test microorganisms. The method further includes the step of irradiating the microorganisms of the target with light pulses having the identified pulse parameters at the identified radiant exposure for each of the irradiation sessions so as to photoeradicate all or a portion of the microorganisms.

The present invention provides a composition containing acid hydrochloride, the composition comprising 5-aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride, fermented Codonopsis lanceolata extract, a Cordyceps militaris extract, krill oil, polydeoxyribonucleotide sodium, propylene glycol, hyaluronidase, L-carnitine, caffeine, Origanum vulgare leaf oil, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), allantoin, cetyl alcohol and mineral water.