Method and composition for hyperthermally treating cells in the eye with simultaneous imaging
View Patent ↗A method and composition for hyperthermally treating cells in the eye with simultaneous imaging. The heat (temperature) production inside the eye (target) tissue is imaged. The desired temperature is achieved using a laser and photoacoustic imaging technique. Hyperthermia treatment of tissue in a target site applies a heat source to kill cells without protein denaturation. The method introduces an encapsulated dye that is released at a selected temperature in the target site to indicate that a threshold temperature has been reached to hyperthermally treat the tissue. In one embodiment, the composition releases the dye at a temperature of 42° C. to 50° C., and preferably about 45° C. to 49° C. The composition which can be a liposome composition encapsulating the dye can be introduced to the bloodstream of the patient to flow through the target site.
1. A method of hyperthermally treating tissue in an animal eye, the method comprising the steps of:
introducing a temperature indicating substance or temperature enhancer into the bloodstream of the animal to flow through the tissue in a target site, the temperature indicating substance including a biomarker that can increase the temperature to a degree when being exposed to light of certain wave length creating a photoacoustic sound wave indicating temperature of about 45° C. to about 49° C.,
applying a heat source to the target site and hyperthermally heating the tissue in the target site up to 55° C. to image simultaneously hyperthermally treated tissue in the target site for a time sufficient to kill cells in the tissue substantially without denaturing proteins in the tissue, and
visualizing the process ultrasonically to indicate that a predetermined temperature has been attained at the target site.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the biomarker is heat activated.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the biomarker is a gold nanotube or liposome, and the method comprises heating the biomarker with a laser beam.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the process is observed using a system of imaging combining ultrasonic imaging and photoacoustic imaging and simultaneously visualizing the back of the eye or other ocular tissue.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the biomarker has a compound selected from the group consisting of an antibody, an antivascular endothelial growth factor, an antiproliferative agent, or combinations thereof, attached to the biomarker.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat source is a laser source, a microwave source, an infrared source, or an ultrasonic source.
7. The method of claim 1 comprising heating the target site to a temperature between about 47° C. and about 55° C. for about 5 minutes to about 10 minutes.