Non-invasive systems and methods for in-situ photobiomodulation

Abstract

Products, compositions, systems, and methods for modifying a target structure which mediates or is associated with a biological activity, including treatment of conditions, disorders, or diseases mediated by or associated with a target structure, such as a virus, cell, subcellular structure or extracellular structure. The methods may be performed in situ in a non-invasive manner by application of an initiation energy to a subject thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure directly or via a modulation agent. The methods may further be performed by application of an initiation energy to a subject in situ to activate a pharmaceutical agent directly or via an energy modulation agent, optionally in the presence of one or more plasmonics active agents, thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure. Kits containing products or compositions formulated or configured and systems for use in practicing these methods.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for wound healing in a subject, comprising:
 administering at least one energy modulation agent to a region of a subject in need of wound healing, wherein the at least one energy modulation agent is selected to have an emitted energy to be of a wavelength sufficient to cause the wound healing upon application of an applied initiation energy; and   applying the initiation energy from at least one source, wherein the initiation energy is converted by the at least one energy modulation agent into the emitted energy that directly causes wound healing in the region of the subject.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said initiation energy is capable of penetrating completely through said subject. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said initiation energy is applied from a single source. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said initiation energy is applied from more than one source. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said energy modulation agent decreases the wavelength of the initiation energy. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said energy modulation agent increases the wavelength of the initiation energy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the initiation energy is UV radiation, visible light, IR radiation, x-rays, gamma rays, an electron beam, microwaves or radio waves. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the initiation energy is intensified by a nanoparticle or nanocluster of atoms and is further absorbed by the energy modulation agent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a plasmonics-active agent is further applied which enhances or modifies the applied initiation energy, such that the enhanced initiation energy is absorbed, intensified or modified by the energy modulation agent into the energy that effects the predetermined change in said target structure. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one energy modulation agent is one or more members selected from a biocompatible fluorescing metal nanoparticle, fluorescing metal oxide nanoparticle, fluorescing metal coated metal oxide nanoparticle, fluorescing dye molecule, gold nanoparticle, silver nanoparticle, gold-coated silver nanoparticle, a water soluble quantum dot encapsulated by polyamidoamine dendrimers, a luciferase, a biocompatible phosphorescent molecule, a combined electromagnetic energy harvester molecule, and a lanthanide chelate exhibiting intense luminescence. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plasmonics-active agent is a PEPST probe with multi plasmonics resonance mode. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plasmonics-active agent is a PEPST probe comprising plasmonics-active metal nanostructures. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the metal nanostructures are nanospheres, nanorods, nanocubes, nanopyramids, nanoshells, multi-layer nanoshells and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plasmonics-active agent is a PEPST probe with multiple structures for different plasmonics activation regimes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the plasmonics activation regime is NIR and/or X rays. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plasmonics-active agent is an exciton-induced phototherapy (EIP) probe possessing exciton properties. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one energy modulation agent is activated prior to administration and after administration to the subject, the activated energy modulation agent is triggered to emit an energy that induces the predetermined change. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one energy modulation agent is an infrared-triggered phosphor.