A method of assessing surgical margins is disclosed. The method includes, subsequent to administration of a compound configured to induce emissions of between about 600 nm and about 660 nm in cancerous tissue cells, positioning a distal end of a handheld, white light and fluorescence-based imaging device adjacent to a surgical margin. The method also includes, with the handheld device, substantially simultaneously exciting and detecting autofluorescence emissions of tissue cells and fluorescence emissions of the induced wavelength in tissue cells of the surgical margin. And, based on a presence or an amount of fluorescence emissions of the induced wavelength detected in the tissue cells of the surgical margin, determining whether the surgical margin is substantially free of at least one of precancerous cells, cancerous cells, and satellite lesions. The compound may be a non-activated, non-targeted compound such as ALA.

Methods of treating tumors by administering compounds to a patient are provided. Compounds such as drugs, 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.

The present invention provides compositions comprising energy (e.g., light) absorbing submicron particles (e.g., nanoparticles comprising a silica core and a gold shell) and methods for delivering such particles via topical application. This delivery is facilitated by application of mechanical agitation (e.g. massage), acoustic vibration in the range of 10 Hz-20 kHz, ultrasound, alternating suction and pressure, and microjets. The method of treatment is performed and then, depending upon the desired clinical outcome, repeated after a treatment response interval has elapsed.

An applicator for dispensing a solution having two or more components includes a hollow body having a head provided at one end of the hollow body for dispersion of the solution and a breaking mechanism attached to the hollow body. The breaking mechanism includes at least one projection extendable into an interior of the hollow body. The applicator further includes a plurality of ampoules placed in the interior of the hollow body. The plurality of ampoules contains the two or more components. Upon activation of the breaking mechanism, the at least one projection applies a force to the plurality of ampoules such that the plurality of ampoules break and release the two or more components to form the solution.

The present invention is related to a pulse photodynamic therapy (or pulse PDT) treatment of photodamaged skin.

The present disclosure relates to quantum dot nanoparticles conjugated to 5-Aminolevulinic acid or esters thereof and their uses in conjunction with additional free, non-endogenous 5-Aminolevulinic acid or esters thereof.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical topical gel solution that contains 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and an aqueous low viscous gel matrix. This invention also relates to a pharmaceutical preparation containing this composition. The formulation of this type can be used in photodynamic therapy as well as in the photodynamic detection of abnormally proliferating cells.

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 methods of treating diseases and disorders of the skin (e.g., acne) with heat-enabled photodynamic therapy (HEPT). Methods of treating acne, non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), actinic keratosis (AK) or disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) using red light photodynamic therapy on heat-treated skin.

Certain substances (e.g., large molecules) that ordinarily cannot traverse the cell membrane of cells can be introduced into cells by applying an alternating electric field to the cell for a period of time, wherein the frequency of the alternating electric field is selected so that application of the alternating electric field increases permeability of the cell membrane. Once the permeability of the cell membrane has been increased, the substance is able to cross the cell membrane. This approach is particularly useful in the context of cancer cells (e.g., glioblastoma).