The present invention relates to a method comprising the steps of provision of a sample derived from a blood sample of a subject that has received a checkpoint-inhibitor therapy and is suspected of developing or has developed symptoms of immune-related adverse events (irAE), adding a photosensitizing agent to the sample, and subjecting the sample to irradiation, which preferably generates immunoregulatory NK cells in said sample. In embodiments, the photosensitizing agent is 8-methoxypsoralen and/or the irradiation is UVA irradiation. In another aspect, the invention relates to immunoregulatory NK cells obtained from a method comprising the steps of provision of a sample derived from an isolated blood sample of a subject, adding a photosensitizing agent to the sample, and subjecting the sample to irradiation. Furthermore, the invention encompasses immunoregulatory NK cells for use in the treatment and/ or prevention of irAE in a subject that has received a checkpoint-inhibitor therapy.

A phosphor-containing drug activator and suspension thereof are provided. The suspension at least includes two or more phosphors capable of emitting ultraviolet and visible light upon interaction with x-rays. The two or more phosphors include Zn2SiO4:M12+ and (3Ca3 (PO4)2Ca(F, Cl)2:Sb3*, Mn2+) at a ratio NP-200:GTP-4300 of from 1:10 to 10:1, and each of the two phosphors have an ethylene cellulose coating and/or a diamond-like carbon coating. The suspension further includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A system for treating a disease in a subject in need thereof includes a) the above-noted suspension, b) a photoactivatable drug containing 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP or UVADEX) untethered from the two or more phosphors, c) one or more devices which infuse the photoactivatable drug and the suspension including the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier into a diseased site in the subject, and d) an x-ray source which is controlled to deliver a dose of x-rays to the subject for production of the ultraviolet light.

The present invention relates to a method comprising the steps of provision of a sample derived from a blood sample of a subject that has received a checkpoint-inhibitor therapy and is suspected of developing or has developed symptoms of an immune-related adverse event (irAE), adding 8-methoxypsoralen to the sample, and subjecting the sample to UVA irradiation. In another aspect, the invention comprises administering a treatment procedure on consecutive days, during the checkpoint-inhibitor therapy or after discontinuation of the checkpoint-inhibitor therapy.

Plasmonics-active metal nanostars are provided that can be used for treating and detecting cells in a subject. The modes of treatment include a photo-activated drug, which is activated by the photo-response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; a thermally-activated drug, which is activated by a thermal response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; and the thermal response of the nanostar itself to electromagnetic stimulation, which may directly or indirectly cause the death of an undesirable cell. Uptake of nanostars by undesirable cells may also aid in detection, by enhancing contrast or otherwise transforming electromagnetic stimulation during imaging.

A system (and associated method) for treating a human or animal body. The system has a photoactivatable drug for treating a first diseased site, a first pharmaceutically acceptable carrier including one or more phosphorescent or fluorescent agents which are capable of emitting an activation energy into the body which activates the photoactivatable drug, a first device which infuses the first diseased site with a photoactivatable drug and the first pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, a first energy source which irradiates the diseased site with an initiation energy to thereby initiate emission of the activation energy into the body, and a supplemental treatment device which administers one or both of a therapeutic drug or radiation to the body at a second diseased site or the first diseased site, to provide an immune system stimulation in the body.

Methods and systems for maintaining patient fluid balance during an extracorporeal cell treatment are disclosed. The method includes minimizing the amount of saline or other fluid that is returned to the donor. Saline used during priming of the fluid circuit may be used to increase the volume of the collected cells to arrive at a treatment-ready product with a suitable hematocrit.

The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for use in irradiation therapy, comprising an ionization module (2) adapted to emit ionization irradiation, and a power source (4) and a control unit (5) to provide a user interface. The apparatus is characterized in that the apparatus comprises an UV module (3) adapted to emit UVA, UVB and/or UVC irradiation (9), whereby the ionization module and the UV module emit irradiation simultaneously or alternately, and the ionization module emits irradiation (8) at a wave length at least below 100 nm. The invention also relates to a use of the apparatus for radiating an object (7) and use of the apparatus and method for treatment of a mammal (7). A detector may measure and/or create an image of the irradiation (6).

Plasmonics-active metal nanostars are provided that can be used for treating and detecting cells in a subject. The modes of treatment include a photo-activated drug, which is activated by the photo-response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; a thermally-activated drug, which is activated by a thermal response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; and the thermal response of the nanostar itself to electromagnetic stimulation, which may directly or indirectly cause the death of an undesirable cell. Uptake of nanostars by undesirable cells may also aid in detection, by enhancing contrast or otherwise transforming electromagnetic stimulation during imaging.

A system for treating a diseased site in a human or animal body. The system includes a pharmaceutical carrier including one or more phosphors which are capable of emitting light into the diseased site upon interaction, a photoactivatable drug for intercalating into DNA of cells at the diseased site, one or more devices which infuse the diseased sited with the photoactivatable drug and the pharmaceutical carrier, an x-ray or high energy electron source, and a processor programmed to control a dose of x-rays or electrons to the diseased site for production of light inside the tumor to activate the photoactivatable drug.

A method and a system for producing a change in a medium. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the energy modulation agent.