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Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with Dartmouth College and Cleveland Clinic, has been awarded a research program by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a novel optical dosimetry technology and demonstrate its applications in two areas: real-time measurement of photosensitizer (PS) and singlet oxygen (O2) during photodynamic therapy (PDT), and non-invasive quantification of singlet O2 produced in skin under UV irradiation.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. Each year in the U.S. alone over 5.4 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer are treated. The annual cost of treating skin cancers in the U.S. is estimated at $8.1 billion. Treatment and prevention of skin cancer is a significant health care challenge.

PSI’s ultrasensitive, robust dosimeter is based on an innovative “computational spectroscopy” technology and a low-cost hardware configuration. PSI will demonstrate the capability of the singlet O2 dosimeter to guide optimization of PDT protocols for improved skin cancer treatment, as well as to support biomedical research focused on understanding skin damage/carcinogenesis by solar UV irradiation, with a goal of accelerating the development of more effective sunscreen products. The carcinogenesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by UVA is not well understood, hindering the development of more effective sunscreen products that protect against UVA and longer wavelengths. Real-time quantification of singlet O2 will benefit both applications and lead to advancements in skin cancer therapy and prevention.

For more information, contact:

Mr. William Kessler
Vice President, Applied Optics
kessler@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003