Cationic phthalocyanines with either aluminum or silicon as the central metal were evaluated for their ability to inactivate viruses in red blood cell concentrates (RBCC) photodynamically. In addition, the virucidal potential of a substituted anionic phthalocyanine, aluminum dibenzodisulfophthalocyanine hydroxide (A1N2SB2POH) was evaluated and compared with that of the much studied anionic aluminum tetrasulfophthalocyanine hydroxide (A1PcS4OH). Based on the rate of inactivation of the lipid-enveloped vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), the virucidal potential of these phthalocyanines was: HOSiPcOSi(CH3)2(CH2)3N+(CH3)3I- (Pc 5) = SiPc[OSi(CH3)2-(CH2)3N+(CH3)3I-]2 (Pc 6) > A1PcOSi(CH3)2(CH2)3N+(CH3)2(CH2)11CH3I- (Pc 21) = A1N2SB2POH = A1PcS4 > HOSiPc[OSi(CH3)2(CH2)3N+(CH3)2(CH2)11CH3I-]2 (Pc 14) > A1PcOSi(CH3)2(CH2)3N+(CH3)3I- (Pc 2). Phthalocyanine ligand 14 and Pc 21 are new phthalocyanines, made by quaternizing known amino analogues. Compared to VSV, the rate of inactivation of Sindbis virus (another model lipid-enveloped virus) was identical when treated in red blood cells (RBC) with Pc 5 and slightly higher when treated with Pc 6 and A1PcS4OH. Treatment of RBCC containing cell-free human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) with Pc 5 or A1PcS4OH required 15 min of irradiation to inactivate (> 5 log10 reduction) the virus. The extent of HIV-1 inactivation with A1N2SB2POH was 3.7 log10 after 60 min of red light exposure. The RBC integrity after photosensitization was measured by the ability of the cells to bind to plates coated with poly-L-lysine, (which reflects the retention of the RBC surface negative charges) and hemolysis of the cells over a 7 day storage period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The relative importance of type I and type II mechanisms in the photodynamic treatment of red blood cell concentrations (RBCC) to inactivate viruses was studied using aluminum phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (AlPcS4), visible light and quenching or enhancing agents of reactive forms of oxygen. Treatment of a human RBCC with 10-13 microM AlPcS4 and 25-26 mW/cm2 visible light resulted in the rapid and complete inactivation of added vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). The addition of mannitol, glycerol, reduced glutathione (GSH), or superoxide dismutase (SOD), known quenching agents of type I mechanisms, had little to no effect on the rate of inactivation of VSV. Significant inhibition of VSV kill was observed on addition of tryptophan or sodium azide, known quenchers of type II mechanisms. Additionally, the rate of VSV kill was enhanced in the presence of D2O. Taken together, these results indicate a predominant role of singlet oxygen in the inactivation of VSV on photodynamic treatment of RBCC. The relative importance of type I and type II mechanisms on cellular toxicity was also evaluated. Little, if any hemoglobin release was observed on treatment of human or rabbit RBCC with 10 microM AlPcS4 and 44 J/cm2 of visible light in the presence or absence of the above mentioned quenchers. The effect of the addition of quenchers on the recovery and circulatory survival of treated, autologous rabbit RBCC, labeled with 51Cr, was also assessed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The inactivation of viruses added to whole blood and a red cell concentrate with aluminum phthalocyanine and its sulfonated derivatives was studied. A cell-free form of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), used as a model, was completely inactivated (greater than 10(4) infectious units; TCID50) on treatment of whole blood with 10 microM (10 mumol/L) aluminum phthalocyanine chloride (AIPs) and visible light dosage of 88 to 176 J per cm2. At 44 J per cm2, complete VSV inactivation was achieved on raising the concentration of AIPc to 25 microM (25 mumol/L). Results at least as good were achieved on similar treatment of a red cell concentrate. Also inactivated were a cell-associated form of VSV and both cell-free and cell-associated forms of human immunodeficiency virus; encephalomyocarditis virus, used as a model for non-lipid-enveloped viruses, was not inactivated by this procedure. This inactivation of cell-free VSV suggests that a similar degree of inactivation could be achieved with a lower concentration of the sulfonated forms of aluminum phthalocyanine. Throughout the above studies, red cell integrity was well maintained, as judged by the absence of hemoglobin release (less than or equal to 2%) during the course of treatment or on subsequent storage. Red cell osmotic fragility was decreased on treatment of whole blood with AIPc. This study indicates that AIPc may be a promising method for the inactivation of viruses in cellular blood products.

These findings indicate that Trolox protects RBCs from phthalocyanine-photosensitized damage without affecting virus kill. The addition of Trolox would be beneficial for improving the quality of RBCs subjected to photodynamic treatment.

Sulfhydryl compounds are useful in preventing IgG binding to RBCs following Pc photosensitization. Since virus inactivation proceeds at the same rate in the presence and the absence of sulfhydryl compounds, their addition to treated RBCs should allow crossmatching for transfusion after treatment. The binding of IgG depends to a large extent on the generation of reactive oxygen species.