The present invention relates to methods for treating cell proliferation disorders comprising: (1) administering to the subject at least one activatable pharmaceutical agent that is capable of activation by a simultaneous two photon absorption event and of effecting a predetermined cellular change when activated; (2) administering at least one plasmonics-active agent to the subject, and (3) applying an initiation energy from an initiation energy source to the subject,
wherein the plasmonics-active agent enhances or modifies the applied initiation energy, such that the enhanced or modified initiation energy activates the activatable pharmaceutical agent by the simultaneous two photon absorption event in situ, thus causing the predetermined cellular change to occur, wherein said predetermined cellular change treats the cell proliferation related disorder; and the use of plasmonics enhanced photospectral therapy (PEPST) and exiton-plasmon enhanced phototherapy (EPEP) in the treatment of various cell proliferation disorders, and the PEPST and EPEP agents and probes; a kit and a computer implemented system for performing the method; a pharmaceutical composition useful in the method; and a method for causing an autovaccine effect in a subject using the method.

A method of making free-standing ALD-coated plasmonic nanoparticles. The method comprises providing a plurality of semiconductor quantum dots. One or more conformal layers of dielectric material are deposited over the quantum dots to form dielectric-coated quantum dots. A conformal metallic nanoshell is deposted over the dielectric-coated quantum dots to form plasmonic nanoparticles. At least one layer chosen from i) the conformal layers of dielectric material and ii) the conformal metallic nanoshell is deposited using a vapor phase atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. Plasmonic nanoparticles and systems employing the nanoparticles are also disclosed.

Provided herein are compositions comprising lanthanide-doped nanoparticles which upconvert electromagnetic radiation from infrared or near infrared wavelengths into the visible light spectrum. Also provided herein are methods activating light-responsive opsin proteins expressed on plasma membranes of neurons and selectively altering the membrane polarization state of the neurons using the light delivered by the lanthanide-doped nanoparticles.

The invention provides novel biocompatible upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) that comprises a core of cubic nanocrystals (e.g., comprising -Na Ln.sub.a, Ln.sub.b Ln.sub.c F.sub.4) and an epitaxial shell (e.g., formed from CaF.sub.2; wherein Ln.sub.b is Yb), and related methods of preparation and uses thereof.

An upconversion nanoparticle includes at least one host selected from LiYF.sub.4, NaY, NaYF.sub.4, NaGdF.sub.4, and CaF.sub.3, at least one sensitizer selected from Sm.sup.3+, Nd.sup.3+, Dy.sup.3+, Ho.sup.3+, and Yb.sup.3+ doped in the at least one host, and at least one activator selected from Er.sup.3+, Ho.sup.3+, Tm.sup.3+, and Eu.sup.3+ doped in the at least one host. The upconversion nanoparticle is designed using a calculation from first principles to absorb light in the near-infrared wavelength range whose stability is ensured. Further, a hyaluronic acid-upconversion nanoparticle conjugate, in which the upconversion nanoparticle as described above is bonded to hyaluronic acid, is provided to be used in various internal sites with a hyaluronic acid receptor, particularly enables targeting, and increases an internal retention period and biocompatibility thereof.

The invention provides novel biocompatible upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) that comprises a core of cubic nanocrystals (e.g., comprising -Na Ln.sub.a, Ln.sub.b Ln.sub.c F.sub.4) and an epitaxial shell (e.g., formed from CaF.sub.2; wherein Ln.sub.b is Yb), and related methods of preparation and uses thereof.

The present invention is of using contact lenses for photodynamic inactivation of germs, a product, and a method of treating fungal keratitis by applying the same. The contact lens is to continuously release a photoactive solution containing a photosensitizer such as rose bengal and hydrogen peroxide to the ocular surface. The photosensitizer would be activated while these contact lenses are applied and exposed to daylight or other artificial lights in the environment. After activation, the photosensitizer will produce singlet oxygen and reactive oxygen species to inhibit the growth of fungi, thereby treating fungal keratitis without having the patient experiences eye pain or discomfort. Moreover, since the photoactive solution excludes any antifungal agents, the contact lenses for photodynamic inactivation of germs of the present invention can not only improve drug-resistant fungal keratitis but also prevent the germs from developing antimicrobial resistance.

The present invention relates to complex particles using methylene blue for treating a skin disease caused by propionibacterium acnes or staphylococcus aureus and a composition for treatment including the complex particles. The complex particles in the present invention can be used as a photosensitizer for a photodynamic therapy and complex particles having a micelle form in which hydrophilic methylene blue and two hydrophobic organic acids are combined, and as a result, pore penetration is easy and an occlusion time can be significantly reduced to 30 minutes as compared with conventional phototherapy requiring an occlusion time of 1 hour to 3 hours. Further, in order to reduce side effects of a residual photosensitizer in phototherapy using an existing photosensitizer due to photoreaction and photobleaching of the methylene blue-organic acid complex, a light protection (light blocking or light shielding) time when contact of light needs to be avoided for 24 hours or more after treatment can be significantly reduced to 3 hours, and target treatment for propionibacterium acnes, staphylococcus aureus, or the like which is a cause of acne is possible.

A system for treatment of tumors includes a vessel having a photosensitizing agent therein, a delivery device for communicating the photosensitizing agent from the vessel to tumor tissue, a light source for radiating the tumor tissue after the delivery device has delivered the photosensitizing agent to the tumor tissue, a catheter having at least one inflatable balloon positioned thereon, and a fluid source that repeatedly inflates and at least partially deflates the inflatable balloon such that a resecting outer surface of the balloon contacts the radiated tumor tissue and resects the tissue.

A kit for use in performing a cancer treatment, having a vial containing a phosphor-containing drug activator, wherein the phosphor-containing drug activator is present in the vial at a dosage level that is correlated with a size of tumor to be treated, and a container containing the vial; wherein the phosphor-containing drug activator contains an admixture of two or more phosphors capable of emitting ultraviolet and visible light upon interaction with x-rays; where the two or more phosphors include Zn.sub.2SiO.sub.4:Mn.sup.2+ and (3Ca.sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2Ca(F, Cl).sub.2:Sb.sup.3+, Mn.sup.2+) at a ratio (Zn.sub.2SiO.sub.4:Mn.sup.2+):(3Ca.sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2Ca(F, Cl).sub.2:Sb.sup.3+, Mn.sup.2+)) of from 1:10 to 10:1; wherein each of the two or more phosphors have at least one coating selected from an ethyl cellulose coating and a diamond-like carbon coating.