Analysis of gold nanoparticles as carriers for different molecular dye type photosensitizers in Photodynamic Therapy applied to carcinomas.

The effect of gold nanoparticles on the depth of photodynamic treatment for different types of photosensitizers with significant potential for their application in oncology is studied by means of a predictive model. Results show differences of up to 18 % when nanoparticles are used as carriers for Cyanine based photosensitizers in a carcinoma. Therefore these results could be useful to rule out the administration of this means of delivery for certain molecular dye type photosensitizers when Photodynamic Therapy is applied to carcinomas with a given structure.

Analysis of Low Intensity Laser Therapy as adjuvant to Photodynamic Therapy in Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer.

The combination of Low Intensity Laser Therapy and Photodynamic Therapy constitutes a minimal invasive and highly selective alternative for the treatment of skin tumors. Photodynamic effectiveness, specially the absence of recurrence, highly depends on the type of tumor, as well as on several parameters such as those related with the optical source. Therefore it is important to have predictive tools to provide an appropriate treatment planning. This work proposes the use of a complex predictive model that includes a three-dimensional meshing of the considered tumor geometry and the optical propagation therein by a three-dimensional Monte Carlo method. The proposed tool is applied to three different types of skin tumors, squamous cell carcinoma, nodular and infiltrative basal cell carcinomas. The estimated volume of treatment, depending on the tumor type and source parameters, allows an appropriate treatment planning in order to avoid undesirable tumor recurrence.