I-Corps: Translation potential of a carrier-free verteporfin nanoparticle formulation for cancer, dermatology, and ophthalmology therapeutics

This I-Corps project is based on the development of a light-activated treatment for tumors in adults. After surgery, cancerous tissue often remains because it is difficult to see and fully remove, allowing tumors to return. This technology is a targeted, minimally invasive treatment that combines fluorescence-guided surgery with light-activated therapy to help surgeons see and destroy remaining cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. Because the treatment can be incorporated into existing surgical procedures, it may reach patients without requiring entirely new clinical infrastructure. The application of this technology may include solid tumors, dermatology, and ophthalmology. This may allow cancer treatments to be more precise and less invasive, and may improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and expand access to care. This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning coupled with first-hand investigation of the industry ecosystem to assess the translation potential of a light-triggered technology for fluorescence-guided surgery and photodynamic therapy. Photodynamic therapy is effective at eliminating primary tumor cells, but it is less effective against infiltrative cancer cells that remain after surgical resection and are difficult to visualize and remove. This technology combines fluorescence-guided surgery with photodynamic therapy, both of which have established safety profiles in cancer patients, into a single targeted treatment. The therapy is designed for localized tumors and for recurrent tumors that cannot be surgically removed. Because the light-activated agent accumulates preferentially in tumors, activation is confined to the tumor site, which reduces off-target effects compared with systemic chemotherapy. Light activation induces localized tumor cell death and may also stimulate an immune-mediated antitumor response, potentially extending its effect beyond the treated area. This technology addresses residual disease after surgery, which may improve survival rates while reducing toxicity relative to current standards of care. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.