Non-invasively guided ultrasound hyperthermia mediated treatment of cancers in vivo using drug-loaded temperature sensitive liposomes

Chemotherapy uses drugs to treat cancer, but often causes significant side effects as the drug can spread throughout the body and affect healthy tissues as well. These side effects can be reduced by capturing drugs into nanoparticles such as liposomes that can enter tumors directly, but are too large to accumulate in healthy tissues. However, releasing the drugs from these liposomes is still a challenge. Heat treatments are often used in combination with these liposome nanoparticles to release drugs from liposomes directly in the area of heat treatments. As an added challenge, the risk of overheating can also damage surrounding healthy tissues. This project aims to develop an integrated ultrasound system that takes temperature images using an ultrasound imaging device to control heat treatments in real-time using a second ultrasound treatment device. The integrated system will be used to treat tumors grown on mouse models by releasing drugs contained in liposomes. This is expected to yield publications and a new IP for Cancer Rx, as well as a new feature for ultrasound systems developed by FUJIFILM VisualSonics Inc.

Faculty Supervisor:

Michael Kolios;Carl Kumaradas

Student:

Partner:

Cancer Rx;FUJIFILM VisualSonics

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Toronto Metropolitan University

Program: