# Ultra-sensitive Singlet Oxygen Dosimeter for Skin Cancer Treatment and Prevention

> **NIH NIH R44** · PHYSICAL SCIENCES, INC · 2022 · $905,953

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. Each year in the U.S. alone over 5.4 million cases of
nonmelanoma skin cancer are treated. The annual cost of treating skin cancers in the U.S. is estimated at
$8.1 billion. Treatment and prevention of skin cancer is a significant health care challenge. Physical
Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with Dartmouth College and Cleveland Clinic, proposes to
develop a novel optical dosimetry technology and demonstrate its applications in two areas, i.e.,
real-time measurement of photosensitizer (PS) and singlet oxygen (O2) during photodynamic
therapy (PDT), and non-invasive quantification of singlet O2 produced in skin under UV irradiation.
This ultrasensitive, robust dosimeter is based on an innovative “computational spectroscopy” technology
and a low-cost hardware configuration. We propose to demonstrate the capability of the singlet O2
dosimeter to guide optimization of PDT protocols for improved skin cancer treatment, as well as to support
biomedical research focused on understanding skin damage/carcinogenesis by solar UV irradiation with a
goal of accelerating the development of more effective sunscreen products.
PDT is a targeted, minimally invasive treatment option for skin cancer. During PDT, singlet oxygen (O2) is
produced and is responsible for the cell destruction. At the present time it is difficult, if not impossible,
to predict the response of an individual to PDT. Solar UV irradiation causes direct DNA damage and
thus skin carcinogenesis. UV irradiation on the skin also generates reactive oxygen species (ROS)
including singlet O2, which also contributes to DNA damage. However, the carcinogenesis of ROS
produced by UVA is not well understood, hindering developing more effective sunscreen products
that protect against UVA and longer wavelengths. Real-time quantification of singlet O2 will benefit both
applications, which, in turn, will lead to advancements in skin cancer therapy and prevention.
The overall aim of the proposed Fast Track program is to develop and demonstrate the proposed real-time
singlet O2 dosimetry technology. PSI will work with Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital and Cleveland Clinic to
demonstrate its application in both PDT and UV skin damage investigations. Beiersdorf, a major producer
of skin care products will participate as a consultant at no cost to the program. Phase I will focus on
demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed technology, by developing two prototypes and testing them on
small scale in vivo (mice) and ex-vivo (human skin) experiments. During Phase II, the prototypes will be
optimized and the improved Gen-2 prototypes will be distributed to three institutes for independent testing
during large-scale animal studies and limited human patient testing. Successful completion of these tasks
will lead to a noninvasive, robust singlet O2/PS dosimeter that could benefit research and clinical practice
for curing and preventing skin cancer...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10438940
- **Project number:** 5R44CA250727-03
- **Recipient organization:** PHYSICAL SCIENCES, INC
- **Principal Investigator:** Youbo Zhao
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $905,953
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10438940

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10438940, Ultra-sensitive Singlet Oxygen Dosimeter for Skin Cancer Treatment and Prevention (5R44CA250727-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10438940. Licensed CC0.

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