Correlation between the photostability and photodynamic efficacy fordifferent photosensitizers

Abstract

Using three haematoporphyrin based photosensitizers we investigated their properties related to the phototransformation in solution, the inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) in cell culture and the threshold dose (D th ) in rat livers. The observation of such properties shows the existence of a strong correlation among them. The photosensitizer with the highest phototransformation rate is also the one with the lowest D th and IC 50 , showing more efficacy in cell killing and tissue necrosis during photodynamic therapy applications. We discuss this explanation for such correlation and the possible practical applications for this property.