Novel Chemotherapy Delivery Method for Urothelial Tumors

Project Scope

 

Pulse Therapeutics, Inc currently uses magnetite, Fe3O4, nanoparticles, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), the standard drug for stroke treatment, and a rotating permanent magnet to treat ischemic strokes. The permanent magnet is positioned at the top of the head and the clot-breaking drug is injected intravenously followed by the magnetite nanoparticles. The particles are then guided to the site of the clot by an alternating magnetic field produced by rotating the magnet at 180 rpm. The uniqueness of Pulse Therapeutics’s technology is the use of a rotating magnetic field to driving the particles.  We will adapt Pulse Therapeutics’s technology to be used for the treatment of urothelial cancer, particularly urothelial tumors.

 

Specifically, we will design a system that will allow a permanent magnet to rotate with three degrees of freedom. The magnet’s position and orientation will controlled through an external monitor. The system will be used to guide magnetic nanoparticles although the particle design is not included in the scope of this project. However, the system must be capable of visualizing the particles in the urinary tract to allow for a physician to appropriately position the magnet. The system must allow for the rotating magnet to be positioned on top of or to the side of the patient’s abdomen.