title: Low-cost photodynamic therapy devices for global health settings: Characterization of battery-powered LED performance and smartphone imaging in 3D tumor models.
abstract: A lack of access to effective cancer therapeutics in resource-limited settings is implicated in global cancer health disparities between developed and developing countries. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a light-based treatment modality that has exhibited safety and efficacy in the clinic using wavelengths and irradiances achievable with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) operated on battery power. Here we assess low-cost enabling technology to extend the clinical benefit of PDT to regions with little or no access to electricity or medical infrastructure. We demonstrate the efficacy of a device based on a 635 nm high-output LED powered by three AA disposable alkaline batteries, to achieve strong cytotoxic response in monolayer and 3D cultures of A431 squamous carcinoma cells following photosensitization by administering aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to induce the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). Here we characterize challenges of battery-operated device performance, including battery drain and voltage stability specifically over relevant PDT dose parameters. Further motivated by the well-established capacity of PDT photosensitizers to serve as tumour-selective fluorescence contrast agents, we demonstrate the capability of a consumer smartphone with low-cost add-ons to measure concentration-dependent PpIX fluorescence. This study lays the groundwork for the on-going development of image-guided ALA-PDT treatment technologies for global health applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hempstead
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
authors.forename: Dustin P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Université Paris 13, 93430 Villetaneuse, France.
authors.forename: Abdelali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziouche
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
authors.forename: Gwendolyn M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.affiliation: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arnason
authors.affiliation: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Tayyaba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Celli
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D000068997:Smartphone