Treatment of disease states characterized by excessive or inappropriate angiogenesis
OwnerJennifer L. West, J. Donald Payneinventors
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method for reducing excessive or inappropriate neovasculature, including nevasculature in the eye which interferes with or has potential to interfere with vision, for example, that associated with diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration. The regions of the neovasculature are targeted with nanoparticles, including metal nanoshells, which are then irradiated, preferably with a laser, to heat them and ablate the undesired blood vessels. The nanoparticles are targeted to the neovasculature by linking them with a targeting agent, including, for example, antibodies, antibody fragments, receptor binding proteins or other proteins or molecules including growth factors.
Claims25
A method of reducing or inhibiting excessive or inappropriate neovasculature comprising:
- admininstering a conjugate or chelate comprising a nanoparticle and a targeting agent, wherein said agent targets the neovasculature or cells or tissues proximal to the neovasculature;
- and
- irradiating the area of the neovasculature to heat the nanoparticles sufficiently to damage the neovasculature.
A method of treating reducing or inhibiting excessive or inappropriate neovasculature in the eye associated with diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration comprising:
- administering a nanoparticle which is targeted to a region of neovasculature in the eye;
- waiting for a sufficient time for the nanoparticle to arrive at the target area;
- and
- irradiating the region so as to heat the region and damage the neovasculature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.