Wireless Light Delivery for Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

The low penetration of light through tissue currently limits the therapeutic depth of photodynamic therapy (PDT) to less than a centimeter, even at near-infrared wavelengths. We report a wireless photonic approach to PDT in which miniaturized implantable devices deliver controlled doses of light by wireless powering through thick tissue. We demonstrate targeted cancer therapy with this approach by activating light-sensitive drugs deep in the body and suppressing tumor activity in vivo in animal models. The versatility in light delivery enabled by this approach extends the spatial and temporal precision of PDT to regions deep within the body.