Microwave Confocal Detection and Thermal Therapy for Breast Cancer: Adaptive Phased Array System for In-Vivo Mapping/Targeting Telomerase Activity

摘要

Microwave hyperthermia holds promise in the treatment of malignant breast tumors, with fewer side effects using non-ionizing radiation. However technical limitations continue to limit its use. This project seeks to overcome two such limitations. The first area of research is developing biocompatible vectors with high microwave absorbing and scattering materials, enhancing in- vivo localization of target cells, where the activity of specific markers is present. The second area of research seeks to optimize the microwave energy delivery system, studying the efficiency of pulsed versus continuous energy deposition for frequency from 30 MHz to 3 GHz, where the hyperthermia has shown best therapeutic results and detection systems are designed. First, we identify and measure biocompatible materials that would enhance the absorption and/or the scattering of microwave photons in water based inhomogeneous medium. We first expanded our understanding of dipolar polarization and conduction mechanisms, determining the efficiency of microwave heating. A measurement system was then established and a series of measurements was taken on water-soluble conductive polymers. The first measurements were promising. Future work will focus on the absorption mechanism as well as including these materials in liposomes, optimizing the external delivery system.