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Summary An in vivo study of tissue distribution kinetics and photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA), chlorin e6 (Chl) and Photofrin (PII) was performed to evaluate the selectivity of porphyrin accumulation and tissue damage effects in a tumour model compared with normal tissue. C26 colon carcinoma of mice transplanted to the foot was used as a model for selectivity assessment. Fluorescence measurements of porphyrin accumulation in the foot bearing the tumour and in the normal foot were performed by the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) system. A new high-intensity pulsed light delivery system (HIPLS) was used for simultaneous irradiation of both feet by light in the range of 600-800 nm, with light doses from 120 to 300 J cm-2 (0.6 J cm-2 per pulse, 1 Hz). Photoirradiation was carried out 1 h after injection of ALA, 3 h after injection of Chl and 24 h after injection of PII. A ratio of porphyrin accumulation in tumour vs normal tissue was used as an index of accumulation selectivity for each agent. PDT selectivity was determined from the regression analysis of normal and tumour tissue responses to PDT as a function of the applied light dose. A normal tissue damage index was defined at various values (50, 80 and 100%) of antitumour effect. The results of the LIF measurements revealed different patterns of fluorescence intensity in tumour and normal tissues for ALA-induced protoporphyrin IX (ALA-PpIX), Chl and PIT. The results of PDT demonstrated the differences in both anti-tumour efficiency and normal tissue damage for the agents used. The selectivity of porphyrin accumulation in the tumour at the time of photoirradiation, as obtained by the LIF measurements, was in the order ALA-PpIX > Chl > PII. PDT selectivity at an equal value of anti-tumour effect was in the order Chl > ALA-PpIX > Pll. Histological examination revealed certain differences in structural changes of normal skin after PDT with the agents tested. The results of PDT selectivity assessment with respect to differences in mechanisms of action for ALA, Chl and PII are discussed.

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A spectroscopic and photophysical study of three new sapphyrin molecules is presented. The sapphyrin backbone that was derivatized to make them water soluble possesses an absorption band around 700 nm, a desired property for biological photosensitization. We studied the absorption and fluorescence spectra, from which evidence for aggregation in solvents of different polarities was obtained. The extent of aggregation is correlated with the nature of the attached moiety. The absolute quantum yields of singlet oxygen production were measured, with 1,3-diphenyl isobenzofuran as a model target, and were 0.13-0.18 in ethanol. The binding constants to liposomes and to cells were determined spectroscopically and were found to correspond to the hydrophobicities of the compounds, with an additional effect, ascribed to the sugar moiety, which was found in the case of one of the sapphyrins. The efficiency of photodamage to Staphylococcus aureus by sapphyrins and hematoporphyrin was equivalent, on the basis of cells killed per microgram of sensitizer in the incubation mixture.

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