High optical-throughput spectroscopic singlet oxygen and photosensitizer luminescence dosimeter for monitoring of photodynamic therapy.

We report a high light-throughput spectroscopic dosimeter system that is able to non-invasively measure luminescence signals singlet oxygen ( O ) produced during photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a CW (continuous wave) light source. The system is based on a compact, fiber-coupled, high collection efficiency spectrometer (>50% transmittance) designed to maximize optical throughput but with sufficient spectral resolution (~7 nm). This is adequate to detect O phosphorenscence in the presence of strong luminescence background in-vivo. This system provides simultaneous acquisition of multiple spectral data points, allowing for more accurate determination of luminescence baseline via spectral fitting and thus the extraction of O phosphorescence signal based solely on spectroscopic decomposition, without the need for time-gating. Simultaneous collection of photons at different wavelengths improves the quantum efficiency of the system when compared to sequential spectral measurements such as filter-wheel or tunable-filter based systems. A prototype system was tested during in-vivo PDT tumor regression experiments using benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD) photosensitizer. It was found that the treatment efficacy (tumor growth inhibition rate) correlated more strongly with O phosphorescence than with PS fluorescence. These results indicate that this high photon-collection efficiency spectrometer instrument may offer a viable option for real-time O dosimetry during PDT treatment using CW light. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.