Photosensitizing effects of hematoporphyrin derivative immobilized on sepharose

The importance of liposomes as models and tools in the understanding of photosensitization mechanisms

The various applications of liposomes in understanding photosensitization are described in this paper, with particular emphasis on the various kinds of information that these models allow to obtain in phototherapy. Liposomes are simple vesicles in which an aqueous phase is enclosed by a phospholipidic membrane. They are suitable models mimicking specific situations occurring in vivo and they allow study of the influence of physicochemical, photobiological and biochemical factors on the uptake of photosensitizers by tissues, their mechanisms of action and the subsequent photoinduced tumor necrosis. Moreover, solubilization of the sensitizer into the bilayer seems to improve its tumoral selectivity and its photodynamic efficiency.

Effective photodynamic action by rhodamine 123 leading to photosensitized killing of Chinese hamster ovary cells in tissue culture and a proposed mechanism

The effectiveness of rhodamine 123 (R123) as a photosensitizer of cell killing is relatively low and correlates with its inefficient production of singlet oxygen. The known selective retention of R123 in the mitochondria of epithelially derived carcinoma cells, however, is a selective feature that could lead to a more useful therapeutic ratio if photosensitizing effectiveness could be increased. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in tissue culture were therefore exposed to R123 shortly before and during illumination under conditions controlled for oxygen concentration and temperature. Effective photosensitization of cell killing, as judged by colony formation, was produced by 95% but not by 19% O2 during illumination of cells at 5 degrees C or 37 degrees C, and this was additionally enhanced at the sublethal temperature of 42 degrees C. Two CHO cell lines were examined; one line, CHO-AA8, was proficient in the repair of DNA damage and the parent to the second line, CHO-EM9, that was deficient in the repair of DNA strand breaks. Cells of both lines incorporated R123 to a similar degree and were similarly photosensitized by the presence of high oxygen concentration. Furthermore, plasma membrane damage as judged by the exclusion of trypan blue was not observed immediately after illumination in the presence of R123, but was seen in the presence of meso-tetra-(4-sulfonatophenyl)-porphine (TPPS4). The extent of damage to the plasma membrane by TPPS4 was greater in the presence of 95% compared to 19% O2 during illumination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The laws of delayed photohaemolysis sensitized by chlorin e6

The relationships between the rate of post-irradiated photohaemolysis sensitized by chlorin e6 and parameters such as the light fluence (time of irradiation) and sensitizer concentration were studied. On the basis of the single-parametric approach proposed by Valenzeno and Pooler, it was found that the haemolytic rate varies with the square of both the light fluence and the sensitizer concentration. Thus it can be concluded that, in a single erythrocyte lesion, two chlorin e6 molecules participate, each absorbing one photon. The possibility of suppression of post-irradiation haemolysis was also studied using the lipophilic antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and scavengers of 1O2, O2.- and HO. radicals. It was found that BHT inhibits, to a considerable extent, the post-irradiation lysis of cells, by about a factor of 2.5 at a BHT concentration of 9 microM. The addition to the medium of NaN3 (a scavenger of 1O2), superoxide dismutase (a scavenger of O2.- radicals), ethanol and D-mannitol (scavengers of HO. radicals), when irradiation was interrupted, did not produce a marked influence on the kinetics of subsequent haemolysis. On the basis of the results obtained, the nature of erythrocyte targets, which are crucial for the photodynamic effect of chlorin e6, is discussed.

In vitro photosensitization of tumour cell enzymes by photofrin II administered in vivo

The ability of injected Photofrin II, a preparation enriched in hydrophobic dihaematoporphyrin ethers and esters, to photosensitize selected mitochondrial and cytosolic enzymes during illumination in vitro was examined. Preparations of R3230AC mammary tumours, obtained at designated times after a single dose of Photofrin II, displayed a time-dependent photosensitivity. Maximum inhibition of mitochondrial enzymes occurred at 24 hours post-treatment, whereas no inhibition of the cytosolic enzyme, pyruvate kinase, was observed over the 168 hour time course. At the selected 24 hour time point, mitochondrial enzyme photosensitisation was found to be drug dose (5.25 mg kg-1 Photofrin II) and light dose dependent, the rank order of inhibition being cytochrome c oxidase greater than F0F1 ATPase greater than succinate dehydrogenase greater than NADH dehydrogenase. We conclude that porphyrin species contained in Photofrin II accumulate in mitochondria of tumour cells in vivo and produce maximum photosensitisation at 24-72 hours after administration to tumour-bearing animals. The time course observed here with Photofrin II is similar to that seen previously with the more heterogenous haematoporphyrin derivative preparation in this in vivo-in vitro model.