摘要 |
A method and apparatus for immunoimaging and destruction of malignant tumors using immunoimaging agents comprising nanoclusters incorporating monoclonal antibodies that selectively bind to the cell membrane of tumor cells, and conjugated payloads comprising an encapsulated near-infrared (NIR) fluorescing crystal. The encapsulated fluorescing crystal compound provides excellent non-radiometric imaging of the tumor, and the non-antigenic metal coating encapsulating the fluorescing crystal particles provides a non-destructive necrotic killing of the tumor cells by low-level radiometric amplification and heating of the tumor cell membrane. Thus the very same nanoclusters used during imaging also serve to kill the tumor cells by necrosis, damaging the cell membrane by overheating as a result of secondary irradiation (not by harmful radiometric-induced apoptosis). Also included is a radiometric treatment platform for that better focuses the marked tumor by articulating the patient (180 degrees along one axis, 90 degrees along another), thereby minimizing incident radiation and destroying the tumor without exposing healthy tissue.
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