The General Hospital Corporation

Massachusetts General Hospital Corporation

Apostolos G Doukas

William A Farinelli

R Rox Anderson

Fernanda Hidemi Sakamoto

Thomas J Flotte

Shun Lee

Walfre Franco

Joshua Tam

Martin Purschke

Daniel J McAuliffe

Min Yao

Nikiforos Kollias

Therese M Anderson

Richard Dean Blomgren

Dilip Y Paithankar

Richard Rox Anderson

Richard A Anderson

Nikolaos S Soukos

Dilip Paithankar

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.

Compositions and methods comprising energy absorbing materials for follicular delivery

Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue ('micrografts') to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.

Method and apparatus for tissue grafting and copying

A system and method are provided for preventing damage to the epidermis or other epithelial or non-target tissue during photodynamic therapy treatment. For example, an inhibiting radiation can be used to control formation of a photosensitizer from a precursor photosensitizer in the epidermis or epithelial tissue. Subsequent application of a treatment radiation can activate the photosensitizer to damage or destroy target sites while the non-target tissue remains substantially unaffected.

Method and apparatus for optical inhibition of photodynamic therapy

Methods for permeabilizing biofilms using stress waves are described. The methods involve applying one or more stress waves to a biofilm, e.g., on a surface of a device or food item, or on a tissue surface in a patient, and then inducing stress waves to create transient increases in the permeability of the biofilm. The increased permeability facilitates delivery of compounds, such as antimicrobial or therapeutic agents into and through the biofilm.

Permeabilizing biofilms

A method for delivering compounds through epithelial cell layers using impulse transients is described. The method involves applying a compound to, e.g., the stratum corneum, of a patient and then inducing impulse transients to create transient increases in the permeability of epithelial tissue, thereby facilitating delivery of the compound across the epithelial cell layer.

Compound delivery using impulse transients

A device for transdermal delivery of a composition includes a housing partitioned into a delivery chamber arranged to contain the composition and a detonation chamber mechanically coupled to the delivery chamber. The detonation chamber is intended to contain an energetic material producing an impulse transient in response to a detonating stimulus. The housing is coupled to an energy coupling element, or detonator, for communicating energy provided by an external energy source into the detonating stimulus in the detonation chamber. The detonator can detonate the energetic material by causing an electrical discharge or spark within the detonation chamber. The detonator can be a piezoelectric film in electrical communication with the energetic material.

Transdermal delivery

A method and apparatus for treating tissue directs first and second wavelengths of energy, e.g., laser or ultrasonic signal energy, into an overlap region of tissue such that the first and second wavelengths mix in situ to form a third wavelength. The third wavelength effectively couples energy into the tissue to treat tissue in said overlap region, producing local heating or cavitation. Wavelengths may be selected such that overlying tissue is unharmed, and the two wavelengths may be applied along different paths and cross in the overlap region. Absorbers or dyes may be used to tailor absorbance of the third wavelength. When using ultrasonic energy, signals of several megahertz may be so mixed to provide a lower frequency treatment signal such as a 200 kHz treatment signal or a subharmonic. Laser signals may be mixed to form a treatment signal in the infrared.

Selective tissue targeting by difference frequency of two wavelengths

A method of increasing delivery of a compound from an exterior region to an interior region of a cell without causing substantial lethality to the cell. The method includes the steps of first providing the compound in the exterior region proximal to a membrane of the cell, and then exposing the membrane to a time-dependent impulse transient characterized by a rise time and a magnitude. In this manner, the exposing step temporarily increases the permeability of the membrane, resulting in an increase in the diffusion of the compound from the exterior region to the interior region thereby enhancing the delivery of the compound without causing substantial lethality to the cell.

Compound delivery using high-pressure impulse transients

A method of treating diseases of cell proliferation in a patient such as neoplasms and rheumatoid arthritis including administering sub-toxic doses of a compound in combination with high pressure impulse transients. Methods are also provided for identifying compounds and impulse transient dosages useful for high pressure impulse transient chemotherapy.

Growing community of inventors

Belmont, MA, United States of America

Apostolos G Doukas