Technology to improve skin cancer treatment
A technique, which uses light therapy to pierce skin without the use of a needle, could improve skin cancer treatment.
A technique, which uses light therapy to pierce skin without the use of a needle, could improve skin cancer treatment.
A technique, which uses light therapy to pierce skin without the use of a needle, could improve skin cancer treatment.The needle-free injector uses photodynamic therapy to produce a high velocity liquid jet to pierce the skin.
PhD student Desmond Morrow and his colleagues, from the Queen's University's School of Pharmacy in Belfast, found that compared to using a bio-adhesive patch, the jet injector increased the amount of drug that could be delivered through the skin.
"Photodynamic therapy is a relatively new form of skin cancer treatment which results in tumour death," said Morrow.
"However sometimes, its success in individual patients is limited by the poor penetration of the active agent into the tumour. Our research shows that a new way of administering the drug can improve the amount that crosses the skin barrier and gets to the required site."
The results are being presented today at the British Pharmaceutical Conference at Manchester Central - formerly the Manchester International Convention Centre.
Entitled "The medicines maze: balancing risks and benefits", the conference will run from 10 to 12 September and is organized by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.