Tag Archives: drug discovery

Development of thermosensitive liposomes with the help of ML8500

Background The proper delivery and release of therapeutic drugs to a specific site or cell type is one of the main challenges in the treatment of diseases. Liposomes, which are vesicles composed of lipids, serve as carriers for drug delivery thanks to their long circulation time. This results to reduced toxicity in healthy tissues and improved therapeutic efficacy of encapsulated drugs. However, conventional liposomes can often be even too stabile, leading to insufficient drug release at the target site. Light activation can offer a solution Continue reading →Customer case Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Group at University of Helsinki is specialized in top-level pharmaceutical research. Led by Professor Timo Laaksonen, the group focuses on controlled drug release and delivery using modern methods and materials. Particular interest lies in using light to both monitor nanomaterial behavior and to trigger e.g. drug release processes. Modulight products: ML8500, ML6600, MLAKIT   Prof. Timo Laaksonen Dr. Tatu Lajunen Laser use: Light-triggered drug release studies from light-activated liposomes. ML8500 with 808 nm wavelength was used to induce the release of calcein from liposomes under Continue reading →

Light-induced drug delivery with indocyanine green liposomes

Introduction to light-controlled drug delivery systems Study description It is important that light-triggered liposomes efficiently release their contents, while the liposome stability should be maintained in the absence of laser light. The aim of this study is to determine how liposomal stability and drug release are affected by liposomal formulation. Indocyanine green was used as the light-sensitizing compound in the liposomes since it is clinically approved light-sensitive agent. Three different liposomal formulations were prepared: Formulation A: ICG in the aqueous core, liposomes coated Formulation B: ICG in the liposomal Continue reading →Customer case Faculty of Pharmacy at University of Helsinki is specialized in top-level pharmaceutical research. Multidisciplinary research fields include clinical pharmacy, experimental drugs, nanomedicines, and pharmaceutical drug design. Drug delivery unit led by Professor Arto Urtti focuses on design and testing of advanced drug delivery systems especially for ocular indications. Light is studied as an important tool to control the drug delivery to the target tissues. Modulight products: ML6600 (810 nm) + Modulight in vitro illumination kit (MLAKIT) Professor Arto Urtti   Senior Pharmaceutical Researcher Tatu Continue reading →

Protected: Vision-sparing targeted phototherapy for uveal melanoma

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.Customer case Aura Biosciences, headquartered in Cambridge, MA, is developing a new class of photoactivated therapy for cancer patients together with National Cancer Institute, Emory Eye Center and Wills Eye Hospital. The therapy is based on virus-like conjugates and its primary indication is uveal melanoma. The goal is to eventually develop this technology for multiple cancer indications, such as non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), for which plans are underway to conduct a clinical trial. Dr. Carol Shields, MD – Aura Biosciences Dr. Rhonda Kines, PhD – Continue reading →

In vitro illumination using ML8500: osmium-based anticancer photosensitizer with highest hypoxic activity reported to date

  Sherri McFarland discussing how ML8500 is supporting her research   Study protocol to determine wavelength, fluence, and irradiance activities of Os-4T:   Key observations Illumination parameters significantly affected the phototoxicity of Os-4T. The green light (525 nm) was more effective than the red light (630 nm) at lower fluences, while the maximal potency was achieved at both wavelengths when using fluences higher than 100 J/cm2. Irradiance affected the potency with both the red and the green light that were more effective when lower irradiances Continue reading →Customer case Research by: University of Texas at Arlington, US. One of the leading groups in photoactive drug discovery. Developed first clinical-level rubidium-based PS (TLD-1433), now in Theralase-sponsored Phase 2 trials for bladder cancer. Modulight products: ML8500 (445 nm, 525 nm, 630 nm, 753 nm, 810 nm) Laser use: Photoactive drug discovery Link to the study: Prof. Sherri McFarland Research topics: Medicinal inorganic chemistry and drug discovery. Special interest in the synthesis of novel transition metal complexes and studying their interactions with light for the purpose Continue reading →

Near-infrared Absorbing Ru(II) Complexes Act as Immunoprotective Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Agents Against Aggressive Melanoma

Published in: Chemical Science Authors: Liubov M. Lifshits, A. Roque III, Prathyusha Konda, Susan Monro, Houston D. Cole, David von Dohlen, Susy Kim, Gagan Deep, Randolph P. Thummel, Colin G. Cameron, Shashi Gujar, Sherri A. McFarland    Published in: Chemical Science Authors: Liubov M. Lifshits, A. Roque III, Prathyusha Konda, Susan Monro, Houston D. Cole, David von Dohlen, Susy Kim, Gagan Deep, Randolph P. Thummel, Colin G. Cameron, Shashi Gujar, Sherri A. McFarland   9 novel Ru-based coordination complexes with different ligands were systematically synthetized and explored with aim to long wavelengths (>700 nm – >1000 nm depending on the compound) and high singlet oxygen quentum yeild for melanoma PDT. Light dosimetry and phototoxicities were studied in vitro (ML8500) and in vivo. Continue reading →

Fully automated illumination study series for modern cancer drug development

Fully automated illumination study series for modern cancer drug development In vitro cell viability and dose escalation study for developing photosensitive or photoactivated drugs using Modulight ML7710 medical laser and ML8500 automated illumination system.     Experimental set up        Fully automated illumination study series for modern cancer drug development In vitro cell viability and dose escalation study for developing photosensitive or photoactivated drugs using Modulight ML7710 medical laser and ML8500 automated illumination system.   STUDY PLAN The goal was to investigate the effect of irradiance and light dose on a cancer cell line while keeping the photosensitive drug dosing constant. The well-by-well dose escalation plan was done in tabular format. TARGET Cancer cell line incubated at 37°C in acidic culture DRUG TYPE Photosensitive or Continue reading →