pH-dependent spectral properties of HpIX, TPPS2a, mTHPP and mTHPC

Lower extracellular pH in tumors as compared to normal tissues has been proposed to be a factor contributing to the tumor selective uptake of several photosensitizers. Therefore, the pH dependence of absorption and fluorescence spectral properties of four different drugs relevant for photodynamic therapy (hematoporphyrin IX [HpIX], disulfonated meso-tetraphenylporphine [TPPS2a], meso-tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphine [mTHPP] and meso-tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)chlorin [mTHPC]) has been examined. Spectral analysis of the dyes dissolved in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) indicates pH-dependent modification in the physiologically important region (6.0-8.0) only in the case of HpIX. This modification is probably related to the protonation of carboxylic groups. Spectral changes of HpIX in PBS observed at acidic pH values < 5, as well as those of the rest of the drugs (inflection points of titration curves occurred at about 5.1, 3.8 and 2.4 for TPPS2a, mTHPP and mTHPC, respectively), are likely to be due to the protonation of imino nitrogens. The tumor localizing properties of mTHPP and mTHPC reported in the literature appear to be due to factors other than pH-dependent changes in the lipophilicity of the drugs.

The photosensitizing effect of the photoproduct of protoporphyrin IX

The photodynamic effect of a photoproduct of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was investigated in WiDr cells, a human adenocarcinoma cell line. The fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of PpIX and the photoproduct were measured. After 1, 3 or 5 min exposure of the ALA-incubated cells to 140 mW/cm(2) light at 635 nm, the photoproduct--the chlorin photoprotoporphyrin (Ppp), had an emission band around 670 nm. The Ppp excitation peak at 670 nm is well separated from the PpIX peak at 635 nm. The outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) was determined by measuring intracellular fluorescence intensity of propidium iodide (PI) 2 h following PDT and methylene blue (MB) staining 24 h following PDT. A significant increase in the fluorescence intensity of PI was noted when the ALA-loaded cells were exposed to 670 nm light after exposure to 635 nm, indicating enhanced cell membrane inactivation induced by the photodynamic action of the photoproduct. However, the fraction of the cells that survived following the same treatment as measured by MB staining was not significantly affected based on an analysis of variance. The fluorescence of PpIX decayed significantly during 635 nm light exposure. Exposure to light at 670 nm does not lead to any photodegradation of PpIX. The fluorescence of Ppp was bleached during 670 nm light exposure. Exposure of Ppp at 670 nm gives no PpIX back. Thus, the phototransformation of PpIX to Ppp is probably not a reversible process.

Bystander effects in cell death induced by photodynamic treatment UVA radiation and inhibitors of ATP synthesis

Confluent layers of MDCK II cells were treated with four different photosensitizers (a purified version of hematoporphyrin derivative [Photofrin], tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphine [3-THPP], meso-tetra(4-sulphonatophenyl)porphine [TPPS4] and ALA-induced Protoporphyrin IX) and irradiated with blue light, with UVA without exogenous photosensitizers, or incubated with the metabolic inhibitors carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Necrotic and apoptotic cells were detected about 4 h later by fluorescence microscopy. Dead cells appeared in distinct clusters in the confluent layers. The number of dead cells in these clusters was determined by manual counting and image analysis. Forty-one of the 43 experimental distributions of dead cells in clusters were found to be significantly different from a Monte Carlo simulation of the distribution of independently inactivated cells. However, a Monte Carlo simulation model, assuming that each dead cell increased the probability of inactivation of adjacent cells, fitted 34 of the 43 observed distributions of dead cells in clusters, indicating a significant bystander effect for all the investigated treatments. The bystander-effect model parameter, defined as a cell's increase in probability of dying when it has dead neighbors, was significantly lower for 3-THPP-PDT and TPPS4-PDT than for Photofrin-PDT, ALA-PDT and treatment with metabolic inhibitors.

On the pharmacokinetics of topically applied 5-aminolevulinic acid and two of its esters

The kinetics of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) production in normal tissues and WiDr tumors of mice were studied after topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and its methyl ester and hexyl ester. ALA and ALA esters were applied on a spot of 1.0 cm diameter on normal skin and on skin overlaying tumors. PpIX production was studied by fluorescence measurements. ALA induced PpIX not only on the spot of application but also on remote skin areas. This was not found for the ALA esters. They produced PpIX only on the spot of application. Thus, ALA, but neither its esters nor PpIX, is passing into the circulation. The time needed for ALA to enter the circulation through normal skin was about 5 hr. Even when looking normal, the skin overlaying tumors was more permeable to ALA than normal skin. Thus, when applied on the tumor, ALA induced PpIX on remote skin areas without any lag phase. Mainly, PpIX was found in all tissues although small amounts of a porphyrin with an excitation peak at about 400 nm, supposedly uroporphyrin and/or coproporphyrin, were found, notably in remote skin areas. An altered stratum corneum of the skin overlaying tumors probably contributes to the tumor-selectivity, although in the present tumor system less PpIX was found in tumors than in muscles. This is probably related to biochemical and physiological conditions in this particular tumor, since i.p. injection of ALA also leads to less PpIX formation in the tumor than in skin/muscle tissue. Nevertheless, it seems evident that ALA can diffuse more easily from the skin surface and down to the vasculature in the tumor than in the normal tissue and that this leads to a higher concentration of PpIX in the tumor than would have been found if the physiological factors relevant for drug diffusion were the same for tumors as for skin/muscles.

5-Aminolaevulinic acid methyl ester transport on amino acid carriers in a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line

The transport mechanisms of 5-aminolevulinic acid methyl ester (5-ALA-ME) have been studied in a human adenocarcinoma cell line (WiDr) by means of 14[C]-labeled 5-ALA-ME. The transport was found to be partly Na+ dependent, while the extracellular Cl- concentration did not affect the uptake. The transport of 5-ALA-ME into WiDr cells was dependent on the incubation temperature and was found to be completely blocked by the inhibitors of energy metabolism, 2-deoxyglucose and sodium azide. WiDr cells were treated with 10 mM of 14 different amino acids and the substrate specificity of the 5-ALA-ME transporter(s) was analyzed by treating the cells with 23 microM or 1 mM 14[C]-labeled 5-ALA-ME. The transport of 5-ALA-ME was found to be inhibited to the highest extent, i.e. about 60%, by the nonpolar amino acids L-alanine, L-methionine, L-tryptophan and glycine. The uptake of 5-ALA-ME followed an exponential decay with increasing concentration of glycine, reaching a maximum inhibition of uptake of 5-ALA-ME of 55%. Sarcosine, a specific inhibitor of system Gly, did not significantly inhibit 5-ALA-ME transport. In contrast to transport of 5-ALA, 5-ALA-ME does not seem to be taken up by system BETA transporters. In conclusion, the cellular uptake of 5-ALA-ME into WiDr cells seems to be due to active transport mechanisms, involving transporters of nonpolar amino acids.

Topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid hexyl ester and 5-aminolevulinic acid to normal nude mouse skin: differences in protoporphyrin IX fluorescence kinetics and the role of the stratum corneum

An important limitation of topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-based photodetection and photodynamic therapy is that the amount of the fluorescing and photosensitizing product protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) formed is limited. The reason for this is probably the limited diffusion of ALA through the stratum corneum. A solution to this problem might be found in the use of ALA derivatives, as these compounds are more lipophilic and therefore might have better penetration properties than ALA itself. Previous studies have shown that ALA hexyl ester (ALAHE) is more successful than ALA for photodetection of early (pre)malignant lesions in the bladder. However, ALA pentyl ester slightly increased the in vivo PpIX fluorescence in early (pre)malignant lesions in hairless mouse skin compared to ALA. The increased PpIX fluorescence is located in the stratum corneum and not in the dysplastic epidermal layer. In the present study, ALA- and ALAHE-induced PpIX fluorescence kinetics are compared in the normal nude mouse skin, of which the permeability properties differ from the bladder. Application times and ALA(HE) concentrations were varied, the effect of a penetration enhancer and the effect of tape stripping the skin before or after application were investigated. Only during application for 24 h, did ALAHE induce slightly more PpIX fluorescence than ALA. After application times ranging from 1 to 60 min, ALA-induced PpIX fluorescence was higher than ALAHE-induced PpIX fluorescence. ALA also induced higher PpIX production than ALAHE after 10 min of application with concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 40%. The results of experiments with the penetration enhancer and tape stripping indicated that the stratum corneum acts a barrier against ALA and ALAHE. Use of penetration enhancer or tape stripping enhanced the PpIX production more in the case of ALAHE application than in the case of ALA application. This, together with the results from the different application times and concentrations indicates that ALAHE diffuses more slowly across the stratum corneum than ALA.

Phototransformations of 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced protoporphyrin IX in vitro: a spectroscopic study

Human adenocarcinoma cells of the line WiDr were incubated with 5-aminolevulinic acid to induce protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) and then exposed to laser light of wavelength 635 nm. The PpIX fluorescence decreased with increasing exposure. The decay rate was slightly dependent on the initial PpIX concentration. The PpIX fluorescence was halved by a fluence of about 40 J/cm2. Several fluorescing photoproducts were formed. The main one, supposedly the chlorine-type photoprotoporphyrin (Ppp), had a fluorescence excitation spectrum stretching out to about 680 nm with a maximum at around 668 nm. The formation kinetics of this product was dependent on the initial PpIX concentration. Moreover, it was selectively bleached by exposure to light at 670 nm. A photoproduct with an emission maximum at 652 nm, different from Ppp, remained after this exposure. Traces of a photoproduct(s) with fluorescence emission slightly blue-shifted compared with that of PpIX, supposedly water-soluble porphyrins, were also detected after light exposure.

The bystander effect in photodynamic inactivation of cells

Treatment of MDCK II cells with the lipophilic photosensitizer tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin and light was found to induce a rapid apoptotic response in a large fraction of the cells. Furthermore, the distribution of apoptotic cells in microcolonies of eight cells was found to be different from the binomial distribution, indicating that the cells are not inactivated independently, but that a bystander effect is involved in cell killing by photodynamic treatment. The observation of a bystander effect disagrees with the common view that cells are inactivated only by direct damage and indicates that communication between cells in a colony plays a role in photosensitized induction of apoptosis. The degree of bystander effect was higher for cells dying by necrosis than for cell dying by apoptosis.

Increased binding of chlorin e6 to lipoproteins at low pH values

It is well known that the extracellular pH in tumors is lower than that of normal tissue. This has been proposed to be one of the reasons for the tumor selective uptake of several photosensitizers. Photosensitizers like chlorin e(6) are bound to blood components and delivered to different sites in the organism. Thus, the effect of pH on their interaction with human plasma needs to be studied in order to understand a possible role of the acidic microenvironment in tumors for the drug distribution. Increasing amounts of human plasma in the sample resulted in a gradual red shift of the fluorescence emission maxima of chlorin e(6), indicating binding of the drug to some of the plasma components. Titration showed that the drug-plasma interaction was pH-dependent. The titration curve had an inflection point at 7.4+/-0.1. The relative distribution of the drug among plasma components, as found after ultracentrifugation of chlorin e(6)-doped plasma in a salt gradient, showed more binding of the drug to nonlipoproteins than to lipoprotein classes at both pH values studied (6.5 and 7.4). A decrease in the pH was connected with a significant increase in drug-lipoprotein binding. The pH of the environment affects chlorin e(6)-plasma interaction and the distribution of the drug among different plasma components. The results of this study indicate a possible role of the acidic microenvironment in tumors for the preferential uptake and retention of several photosensitiziers.

Photodynamic therapy of superficial basal cell carcinoma with 5-aminolevulinic acid with dimethylsulfoxide and ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid: a comparison of two light sources

The aim of this prospective randomized study was to compare the clinical and cosmetic outcome of superficial basal cell carcinomas (BCC), using either laser or broadband halogen light, in photodynamic therapy with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). A total of 83 patients with 245 superficial BCC were included in the study. Standard treatment involved 15 min of local pretreatment with 99% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) before topical application of 20% ALA with DMSO (2%) and ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid (2%) as cofactors for 3 h before light exposure with either laser or a broadband lamp (BL). A complete response was achieved in 95 lesions (86%) in the laser group and 110 lesions (82%) in the BL group 6 months after treatment. Of these, 80 lesions (84%) in the laser group and 101 lesions (92%) in the lamp group were independently evaluated to have an excellent or good cosmetic post-treatment score. No serious adverse events were reported. This study shows that there is no statistical significant difference in cure the rate (P = 0.49) and the cosmetic outcome (P = 0.075) with topical application of a modified ALA-cream between light exposure from a simple BL with continuous spectrum (570-740 nm) or from a red-light laser (monochromatic 630 nm). Cost and safety are further elements in favor of the BL in this setting.

Induction of multinucleated cells caused by UVA exposure in different stages of the cell cycle

Fibroblasts of the line 3T3 from swiss albino mice were exposed to ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. The cells were synchronized by treatment with nocodazole and mitotic shake-off, and then exposed to UVA irradiation in different stages of the cell cycle. Their photosensitivity varied through the cell cycle, being greatest in the G2 phase. UVA irradiation was found to induce the formation of multinucleated cells. Cells in the G1 phase were found to be most prone to multinucleation 15 min after UVA irradiation, while cells exposed to UVA irradiation in S and G2 phases contained the largest fractions of multinucleated cells 24 h after treatment. The present results indicate that multinucleated cells are formed by fusion of two or more cells shortly after UVA irradiation of early G1 cells, while impairment of cytokinesis is a possible explanation for the delayed formation of multinucleated cells after irradiation in S and G2.

Acid-base properties of chlorin e6: relation to cellular uptake

Chlorins are attractive compounds for photodynamic therapy because of their high absorption in the red spectral region. In this study, the absorbance, fluorescence excitation and fluorescence emission spectra of chlorin e6 have been recorded as functions of pH in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution with and without fetal calf serum (FCS). For pure PBS solutions, variation of the pH of the solution results in a shift of both the absorption and the fluorescence spectrum as well as in a decrease of the fluorescence intensity. Spectrophotometric and fluorimetric titration curves, based on observed changes, have been plotted. There is an indication of aggregate formation at low pH values (pH < 5). The presence of 5% FCS results in a shift of the titration curve, from an inflection point at about 6.5 to one at about 7.6. Pronounced spectral changes of the fluorescence emission spectra of protein-bound chlorin e6 (change of spectral shape, decrease of peak intensity) are also observed. The partition coefficients in the 1-octanol-water system increase with decreasing pH. Thus, relatively more of the drug is incorporated in the octanol phase at low pH. Cellular uptake of chlorin e6 in the presence of serum is significantly higher at pH 6.7 as compared with that at 7.3 and 7.6. We conclude that a change in the pH value of the surrounding medium leads to a change in the lipophilicity of chlorin e6. Such a change is likely to influence its binding to the serum proteins as well as its interaction with the plasma membrane of cells and may also be related to the selective tumor uptake of the drug.

The temperature dependence of protoporphyrin IX production in cells and tissues

The formation of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in human skin during topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was found to be strongly temperature dependent, with an activation energy of about 17 kcal/mol. This temperature dependence is mainly related to porphyrin production and not to ALA penetration into the skin. The penetration of ALA into mouse and human skin was almost temperature independent. The activation energy of PpIX production in mouse skin was practically identical with that in human skin. The activation energy of ALA uptake by cells in vitro was about 10 kcal/mol and that for PpIX production was about 13 kcal/mol. The latter activation energy was within the error limits similar to that for the activity of the enzyme porphobilinogen deaminase, suggesting that this enzyme might represent a rate-limiting step for PpIX production in living tissue.

The mode of cell death induced by photodynamic treatment depends on cell density

Madison Darby canine kidney II (MDCK II) cells were seeded out at two different densities and incubated with 125 micrograms/mL of the photosensitizer meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine (TPPS4) for 18 h, washed and irradiated with blue light. Four hours later the cells were studied by fluorescence microscopy. Apoptotic cells were detected by virtue of the distinct condensation and fragmentation of chromatin, and necrotic cells were detected by uptake of propidium iodide. In addition apoptosis was measured by the TdT assay. The fraction of apoptotic cells and the fraction of necrotic cells were determined for both cell densities at various levels of survival. With < 55% total cell death the apoptotic fraction was significantly higher for cells in confluent monolayers than for cells growing in microcolonies at equitoxic doses. Confluent cells were 2.9 times more sensitive than cells in microcolonies partly due to a 1.5 times higher uptake of TPPS4 in monolayer cells. The difference in mode of cell death for the different cell densities was not related to any observable difference in subcellular localization pattern of TPPS4 at equitoxic doses of photodynamic treatment.

[Use of short wave ultraviolet radiation for disinfection in operating rooms]

Over a number of years, short wave ultraviolet radiation (UVC; 200-280 nm) has been used to disinfect air and surfaces in operating rooms, patient rooms, laboratories and so on, as well as air in ventilation ducts. Despite the well-documented effect of ultraviolet radiation on air quality, thus reducing the occurrence of infections, this technology has been relatively little used. One advantage of this method is that the UVC sources ensure a continuous reduction in the number of airborne microorganisms that are generated all the time. There are, however, some disadvantages with this method. Human exposure to ultraviolet C may cause keratoconjunctivitis and erythema and requires protection of the skin and the eyes of people exposed to levels above recommended exposure limits. However, by enclosing the UVC sources or by irradiating in the absence of human activity, human exposure is eliminated. These and other aspects concerning the use of short wave ultraviolet radiation as a disinfection agent in operating rooms are discussed in this article.

Cooperative inactivation of cells in microcolonies treated with UVA radiation

Microcolonies of Madison-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK II) were exposed to UVA radiation, and the number of cells with membrane damage was determined by staining with propidium iodide and fluorescence microscopy. The cells were clearly damaged in a nonrandom manner: The distribution of damaged cells per microcolony was incompatible with the assumption that the cells were damaged independently. The data were accurately described by a so-called propagated damage model in which a damaged cell can influence its neighbors in a propagating manner. These findings do not agree with the common view that optical radiation interacts with cells in a way in which damage manifested in a cell is the result of absorption of light in the same cell.

Epidemiological support for an hypothesis for melanoma induction indicating a role for UVA radiation

An hypothesis for melanoma induction is presented: UV radiation absorbed by melanin in melanocytes generates products that may activate the carcinogenic process. Products formed by UV absorption in the upper layers of the epidermis cannot diffuse down as far as to the melanocytes. Thus, melanin in the upper layer of the skin may be protective, while that in melanocytes may be photocarcinogenic. Observations that support this hypothesis include: (1) Africans with dark skin have a reduced risk of getting all types of skin cancer as compared with Caucasians, but the ratio of their incidence rates of cutaneous malignant melanoma to that of squamous cell carcinoma is larger than the corresponding ratio for Caucasians. (2) Albino Africans, as compared with normally pigmented Africans, seem to have a relatively small risk of getting cutaneous malignant melanomas compared to nonmelanomas. This is probably also true for albino and normally pigmented Caucasians. (3) Among sun-sensitive, poorly tanning persons, frequent UV exposures are associated with increased risk of melanoma, whereas among sun-resistant, well-tanning persons, increased frequency of exposure is associated with decreased melanoma risk. (4) It is likely that UVA, being absorbed by melanin, might have a melanoma-inducing effect. This is in agreement with some epidemiological investigations which indicate that sun-screen lotions may not protect sufficiently against melanoma induction. The relative latitude gradient for UVA is much smaller than that for UVB. The same is true for the relative latitude gradient of cutaneous malignant melanoma as compared with squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Under the assumption that the average slopes of the curves relating incidence rates with fluences of carcinogenic UV radiation are similar for melanomas and nonmelanomas, these facts are in agreement with the assumption that UVA plays a significant role in the induction of melanomas in humans. This is in agreement with the experimental results with Xiphophorus.

Early induction of binucleated cells by ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation: a possible role of microfilaments

The effects of UVA (365 nm) radiation on the cellular distribution of F-actin and formation of binucleated cells have been studied using 3T3 Swiss albino mouse fibroblasts and V79 Chinese hamster fibroblasts. Ultraviolet A at biologically relevant fluences was found to disintegrate the actin filaments in the cells shortly (5 min) after irradiation, concomitant with the formation of cells with two nuclei. In 76-100% of the bi- and multinucleated cells the distribution of F-actin was clearly altered. Cells in GI phase of the cell cycle were most probably involved in the formation of binucleated cells. The disintegration of F-actin was presumably not due to depolymerization of F-actin to G-actin, as the amount of F-actin in the cells was unaltered after UVA exposure but rather due to direct breakage of the actin filaments. Ultraviolet B (297/302 nm) had no effect on the cellular distribution of microfilaments, not even at highly lethal fluences.

The effect of glucose and temperature on the in vivo efficiency of photochemotherapy with meso-tetra-hydroxyphenyl-chlorin

Balb/c athymic nude mice bearing WiDr human colon adenocarcinoma have been employed to investigate the effect of glucose administration, cooling or slight heating on the anti-tumor activity of photochemotherapy (PCT) with meso-tetra-hydroxyphenyl-chlorin (mTHPC). An apparent delay in the tumor growth is found by combining PCT with either single or multiple injections of glucose. The anti-tumor effect of PCT is slightly enhanced by cooling the tumor to 5 degrees C. Cooling also enhances the efficiency of PCT and glucose injection combined. Heating the tumor to 37 degrees C has no significant effect on either PCT alone or on the combination of PCT and glucose injection. Furthermore, the kinetics of the accumulation of mTHPC in tissue have been studied. Single or multiple injections of glucose have an enhancing effect on the accumulation of mTHPC in the tumor.

Photochemotherapy of tumours with mesotetrahydroxyphenyl chlorin is pH dependent

Human colon carcinoma cells of the WiDr line were incubated with the tumour-localizing and photosensitizing drug mesotetrahydroxyphenyl chlorin (mTHPC) at either pH 6.8, 7.2 or 7.8. The cellular uptake of the drug was found to be independent of the pH value. However, under conditions where the cells contained the same amount of the drug (i.e. after incubation at different pH values) and were exposed to light, their photosensitivity increased with decreasing pH value. Furthermore, the cells were more photosensitive at 4 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. The shoulder on the survive curves, observed for irradiation at 37 degrees C and at pH 7.2-7.8 was practically absent for irradiation at 4 degrees C and even at 37 degrees C when the light exposure took place at pH 6.8. The observations may be related to a reduced repair of photochemotherapy (PCT)-induced damage at 4 degrees C and at pH 6.8. The high PCT efficiency at pH 6.8 may contribute to the tumour selectivity of PCT with mTHPC.

Uptake of topically applied 5-aminolevulinic acid and production of protoporphyrin IX in normal mouse skin: dependence on skin temperature

The temperature dependence of the uptake phase of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and the following production phase of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in normal mouse skin was investigated. A cream containing 20% ALA was topically applied on the skin for 10 min. The amount of ALA-induced PpIX was evaluated by measuring the fluorescence of PpIX from the treated skin. No measurable amount of PpIX was found in the skin immediately after 10 min application of ALA. The penetration of ALA into the skin was almost temperature independent while the following production of PpIX was found to be a strongly temperature-dependent process. Practically no PpIX was formed in the skin as long as skin temperature was kept low (12 degrees C).

Photochemical internalization: a novel technology for delivery of macromolecules into cytosol

The therapeutic usefulness of macromolecules, such as in gene therapy, is often limited by an inefficient transfer of the macromolecule to the cytosol and a lack of tissue-specific targeting. The possibility of photochemically releasing macromolecules from endosomes and lysosomes into the cytosol was examined. Endocytosed macromolecules and photosensitizer were exposed to light and intracellular localization and the expression of macomolecules in the cytosol was analyzed. This novel technology, named photochemical internalization (PCI), was found to efficiently deliver type I ribosome-inactivating proteins, horseradish peroxidase, a p21ras-derived peptide, and a plasmid encoding green fluorescent protein into cytosol in a light-dependent manner. The results presented here show that PCI can induce efficient light-directed delivery of macromolecules into the cytosol, indicating that PCI may have a variety of useful applications for site-specific drug delivery, e.g., in gene therapy, vaccination, and cancer treatment.

Kinetics of photobleaching of protoporphyrin IX in the skin of nude mice exposed to different fluence rates of red light

The purpose of the present study was to determine the kinetics and the fluence rate dependency of the photobleaching of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in normal skin of Balb/c nude mice after systemic and topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). ALA was administered systemically (200 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) and topically (20% w/w ALA cream) to the mice. Fluences of up to 40 J/cm2 were delivered by a dye laser (636 nm) at fluence rates of 37.5, 75, 150, 300 and 500 mW/cm2. The photo-bleaching rate was constant within this range of fluence rates. This result suggests that there is no oxygen effect for PpIX photobleaching in this region for the skin of Balb/c nude mice. During light exposure the fluorescence decay followed neither first- nor second-order kinetics. The decay rate was slightly faster after systemic application than after topical application of ALA, but did not depend on the time (1-8 h) between application and analysis.

Production of protoporphyrin IX induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid in transplanted human colon adenocarcinoma of nude mice can be increased by ultrasound

BALB/c nude mice bearing WiDr human colon adenocarcinoma were used to determine the effect of ultrasound on the production of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-induced protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) both in the tumors and in skin overlying the tumors. Ultrasound (1 MHz) with pulsed irradiation at an average intensity of 3 W/cm2 was given 10 min to the tumor area 10 min after administration of ALA (20% in an oil-in-water emulsion applied topically on the surface of the tumor for 30 min to 3 hr). An approximately 45% increase in the amount of PpIX produced by ALA in the tumors was obtained within 1 to 2 hr following ultrasound treatment. In particular, 1 hr after ultrasound treatment, the amount of PpIX in the tumors was at the same level as that 3 hr after ALA application alone. However, pulsed ultrasound irradiation for 5 min or continuous irradiation for 5 or 10 min had no significant effect on the production of PpIX by the tumor 1 hr after topical ALA application. Furthermore, in most cases, the amount of PpIX in the tumors was significantly decreased when ultrasound was given immediately before ALA application. There was no significant change in the ratio of the amount of PpIX in tumor to that in skin after ultrasound treatment. Most likely, the distribution of PpIX fluorescence in the tumors treated with ultrasound was more homogeneous than that in the tumors given ALA only. Our results provide a theoretical basis for possible clinical use of ultrasound-combined ALA or ALA based photodynamic therapy.