A proposed endoscope that would provide high-quality images of tumors in internal organs could also assist in the delivery of chemotherapy drugs.

Spatial frequency domain imaging gives the endoscope improved image contrast by projecting patterns of light at different frequencies on cancer cells.

A digital mask would allow users to control the shape and strength of the endoscope’s light beam. This would allow it to pop open nanoballoons containing chemotherapy drugs for targeted treatment of tumors.

University at Buffalo professor Dr. Ulas Sunar is leading the project, which is funded by a $186,886 grant from the National Institutes of Health. The device is expected to be used in a pilot study with professor Dr. Shashikant Lele, who is also clinical chief of gynecologic oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

For more information, visit www.buffalo.edu.