Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a globally accepted method for treating different forms of skin or mucosa disorders, requires efficient co-delivery of photosensitizer and corresponding therapeutic light. The adverse effects of...
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has shown significant potential for skin disease treatment. As a key element, light is critical to influencing its treatment outcome, and light dosimetry is an issue of much concern for researchers. However, because of three-dimensional irregularity in shape and patient’s movement during the therapy, irradiance hardly keeps uniform on the lesion and flux measurement remains a challenge. In this work, we report the development of a three-dimensional image-guided PDT system, and the method of dynamic irradiance planning and flux monitoring for lesions in different poses. This system comprises a three-dimensional camera for monitoring patients’ movement during therapy, a computer for data analysis and processing, and a homemade LED array for forming uniform irradiance on lesions. Simulations on lesions of the face and arm show that the proposed system significantly increases effective therapy area, enhances irradiance uniformity, is able to visualize flux on the lesion, and reduces risks of burns during PDT. The developed PDT system is promising for optimizing procedures of PDT and providing better treatment outcomes by delivering controllable irradiance and flux on lesions even when a patient is moving.
DNA vaccination has emerged as an innovative approach for preventing and treating different diseases, including infectious diseases, cancer and autoimmune diseases. Although the results of ongoing clinical trials are promising, several limitations compromise the immunogenicity of these vaccines. Here, we present a novel immune strategy that combines transdermal immunization with skin electroporation to enhance the immunogenicity of the DNA vaccine. A flexible dissolving microneedle array (FDMNA) which contains 400 microneedles was developed. Each microneedle consists of a dissolving needle for delivering DNA vaccine and a flexible needle substrate for good tissue surface coverage. The FDMNA completely dissolve within 10 minutes after being inserted into the skin and transported the DNA into the immune-cell-rich epidermis and dermis layer. In vivo immunity tests were performed to observe the ability of FDMNA-mediated transdermal electroporation to induce immune response after the delivery of DNA. The result showed that, compared with the conventional immune method, the FDMNA induced nearly 16-fold higher levels of antibody immune response against ovalbumin in mice, providing sufficient immune protection. These findings suggest the potential utility of an FDMNA-based immune strategy for enhanced DNA vaccination
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