Tumor Ablation Using AuroLase™ Therapy

Nanospectra Biosciences, Inc. is commercializing a particle-based therapy for the selective and precise thermal destruction of solid tumors while minimizing damage to healthy adjacent tissue and preserving critical structures.  This medical device, AuroLase™ Therapy, is broadly applicable to most solid tumors, and we have an open Investigation Device Exemption (IDE) to conduct the first clinical trial in patients with head and neck cancer.  This trial is currently enrolling patients. 

AuroLase™ Therapy utilizes the unique “optical tunability” of a new class of materials developed at Rice University.  These AuroShell™ particles (also known as nanoshells) can be designed to absorb different wavelengths of light, including the near-infrared wavelengths that can penetrate human tissue.  The particles are delivered intravenously to the tumor and then the area is illuminated with a near-infrared laser.  The particles will selectively absorb this near-infrared energy, converting the light into heat to thermally destroy the tumor and the blood vessels supplying it without significant damage to healthy tissue.