W.K.C. Park
Theromics, Massachusetts, United States
Keywords: Electromagnetic energy absorption, dipole moment, electrical conductivity, drug delivery, immunotherapy
Theromics has demonstrated that our HeatSYNCTM gel technology enhances thermal ablation performance by eliminating the heat sink effect and improving dielectric properties of the target tissue in both MWA and RFA. We have investigated the HeatSYNC gel’s mechanism of action by measuring its electrical conductivity (σ, S/m), a capacity of HeatSYNC gel to absorb energy, in a wide range of temperatures, 20-90 oC. The electrical conductivity of the gel was measured to be 600,000 times greater than that of water molecules, and 100 times larger than those of human tissue. HeatSYNC gel can absorb more energy as temperature increases in a synergistic fashion at both frequencies, 915 and 2450 MHz. Further, Theromics has demonstrated that the HeatSYNC gel technology can be used as a thermal accelerant (TA) and a drug-eluting system (DES) during and post ablation, respectively. To show the TA and DES properties, HeatSYNC gel was examined for two sequential events: first, the gel, impregnated with a drug, was able to accelerate the ablation rate; second, after ablation was completed, the coagulated gel released the drug, e.g., doxorubicin, paclitaxel, sorafenib, resiquimod, and CpG ODN. The drugs are selected for thermal stability and functional anti-tumor activities.