Si (IV)-methoxyethylene-glycol-naphthalocyanine: synthesis and pharmacokinetic and photosensitizing properties in different tumour models

A Si(IV)-naphthalocyanine bearing two methoxyethylenglycol axial ligands to the centrally coordinated metal ion (SiNc) was prepared by chemical synthesis and assayed for the phototherapeutic activity after administration in a Cremophor formulation to C57BI/6 mice bearing a subcutaneously transplanted Lewis lung carcinoma or B16 pigmented melanoma. Pharmacokinetic studies indicate that the maximal accumulation in the tumour occurs at 24 h after intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 mg kg⁻¹ of SiNc, although the naphthalocyanine concentration in the Lewis lung carcinoma (0.70 μg g⁻¹) is significantly larger than that in the B16 pigmented melanoma (0.15 μg g⁻¹). This result in a higher selectivity of tumour targeting in the case of the lung carcinoma. Photodynamic therapy (782 nm, 370 mW cm⁻², 360 J cm⁻²) at 24 h after SiNc injection causes an efficient tumour response for Lewis lung carcinoma (50% lower tumour diameter on day 19 post-treatment as compared to untreated controls) while the pigmented melanoma shows only a minor response regarding the rate of tumour growth.     

Targeting of the tumor microcirculation by photodynamic therapy with a synthetic porphycene

9-acetoxy-2,7,12,17-tetrakis-(β-methoxyethyl)-porphycene (ATMPn) is a chemically pure substance with fast pharmacokinetics and superior photodynamic properties in vitro as compared to Photofrin®. In this study the pharmacokinetics, photodynamic efficacy and tissue localization of ATMPn were investigated in vivo.

Amelanotic melanomas (A-Mel-3) were implanted in dorsal skin fold chambers fitted to Syrian Golden hamsters. Fluorescence kinetics of ATMPn (1.4 μmol kg⁻¹ b.w.i.v; n = 8) were monitored by intravital microscopy. Quantitative measurements of fluorescence intensity were carried out by digital image analysis. For tumor growth studies 1.4 μmol kg⁻¹ was injected 24 h (n = 3), 3 h (n = 3), 1 min (n = 6) and 2.8 μmol kg⁻¹ 1 min (n = 6) before PDT (Laser (630 nm) or lamp (600–750 nm), 100 mW cm⁻², 100 J cm⁻²). Tumor volume was measured for 28 d. Solid tumors (n = 3) were excised 1 min after injection of ATMPn (2.8 μmol kg⁻¹) and cryostat sections (20 mm) were analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) for tissue localization of the dye.

Maximal fluorescence (mean ± S.E.) arose in the tumor (94 ± 7%) and surrounding host tissue (67 ± 5%) 30 s post injection followed by a rapid decrease. Hardly any fluorescence was detectable 12 h after administration. Only PDT 1 min after injection of ATMPn was effective yielding 3/6 complete remissions (2.8 mmol kg⁻¹, laser) and 6/6 complete remissions (2.8 μmol kg⁻¹, lamp), respectively. One minute after injection the dye is primarily localized in the vascular wall of normal and tumor vessels as shown by CLSM.

PDT at a time, when the dye is localized primarily in the tumor microcirculation, exhibits the best tumor killing effects showing that vascular targeting is effective in treating solid malignant tumors. ATMPn in liposomes makes administration and light irradiation in one session possible due to its fast pharmacokinetics. Thus, using ATMPn as a photosensitizer may provide more flexibility to perform PDT after surgical exploration and debulking as adjuvant therapy.     

PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY OF B16 PIGMENTED MELANOMA WITH LIPOSOME-DELIVERED Si(IV)-NAPHTHALOCYANINE

The possibility of extending photodynamic therapy to the treatment of highly pigmented neoplastic lesions was tested by using Si(IV)-naphthalocyanine (SiNc) as a tumor-localizing agent. Si(IV)-naphthalocyanine displays intense absorbance at 776 nm (ɛ= 5 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹), where melanin absorption becomes weaker. As an experimental model we selected B16 pigmented melanoma subcutaneously transplanted to C57BL mice. Upon injection of 0.5 or 1 mg kg⁻¹ of liposome-incorporated SiNc, maximal accumulation of the photosensitizer in the tumor was observed at 24 h with recoveries of 0.35 and 0.57 μg g⁻¹, respectively. However, the tumor targeting by SiNc shows essentially no selectivity, since the photosensitizer concentrations in the skin (peritumoral tissue) were very similar to those found in the tumor at all postinjection times examined by us. Irradiation of SiNc-loaded melanoma with 776 nm light from a diode laser at 24 h postinjection induces tumor necrosis and delay of tumor growth. The effect appears to be of purely photochemical nature at dose rates up to 260 mW cm⁻²; at higher dose rates, thermal effects are likely to become important.     

Simple flow injection system for colorimetric determination of iodate in iodized salt

This work presents a flow injection (FI) system that was developed for determination of iodate. The system utilizes the oxidation of iodide by the analyte to iodine, which subsequently forms tri-iodide. In the presence of starch, the blue I₃⁻–starch complex is developed within the sample zone and can be colorimetrically detected at 590 nm. Optimization was carried out to make the system suitable for quantitating iodate added to table salts. To prevent accumulation of the blue complex residue on walls of tubing and the flow cell, a port was placed in the system for injection of 10⁻³ M thiosulfate plug (100 μl). An injection of this cleaning solution after each sample injection is recommended to avoid positive baseline shift. By means of the paired t-test, the amounts of iodine (mg I kg⁻¹) were statistically compared with the results determined by titration and by iodide ion selective electrode. No significant disagreement at 95% confidence was observed. The proposed system is very simple, uses common chemicals and provides rapid analysis (65 injections per h) with high precision (R.S.D.=0.66%, n=10). A detection limit of 2 mg I kg⁻¹ salt can be achieved.     

Chemiluminescence assay of promethazine hydrochloride using acidic permanganate employing flow injection mode operated with syringe and peristaltic pumps

For the first time, promethazine hydrochloride chemiluminescence emission was monitored. The paper describes a new, specific and highly sensitive flow injection (FI) method for the determination of promethazine hydrochloride using both a peristaltic and a syringe pump. The method was based on the chemiluminescence emission intensity produced as a result of its oxidation reaction with permanganate in sulfuric acid medium. Reaction variables were thoroughly investigated employing chemometrical methods with few number of experiments. The optimum system and chemical conditions were 2.1519×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ permanganate in 0.01 mol l⁻¹ sulfuric acid when operating the peristaltic pump at a flow rate of 45 μl s⁻¹ and injecting the drug by a syringe pump operated at a speed of 40 μl s⁻¹. The method was found to be applicable in the concentration range of promethazine hydrochloride between 1.558×10⁻⁵ and 1.8697×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ with a linear calibration plot of 0.992 correlation coefficient and the following equation: I=92.74+0.08048C. The method adopted proved to be highly suitable for the assay of promethazine hydrochloride in drug formulations without fear of interferences in dosage form.     

AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF TUMORS PHOTOSENSITIZED BY PORPHYRINS ADMINISTERED IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION, BOUND TO LIPOSOMES OR TO LIPOPROTEINS

Abstract— Balb/c mice bearing a transplantedMS–2 fibrosarcoma have been injected with 2 mg kg^-1 hematoporphyrin either dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline (Hp-aq), or incorporated into unilamellar liposomes of dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (Hp-lip), or precomplexed with low density lipoproteins (Hp-LDL). At 24 h after injection, the mice received 150 J cm^-2 of600–680 nm light irradiation. Electron microscopic studies performed on tumor tissues taken from mice sacrificed at different times after the phototreatment showed that, in the presence of Hp-aq. tumor necrosis is largely the consequence of vascular damage. On the other hand, in the presence of Hp-lip and Hp-LDL, the response of the tumor to the phototreatment occurs at a faster rate and is mainly determined by direct damage of neoplastic cells. These findings are correlated with the different distribution of the various hematoporphyrin forms (Hp-aq, Hp-lip, Hp-LDL) among the serum proteins and the modalities of hematoporphyrin delivery to tissues by the possible carriers.     

Enhancement effect of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and its application into voltammetric determination of telmisartan

A sensitive and rapid electrochemical method was developed for the determination of telmisartan based on the enhancement effect of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS). In 0.1 mol L⁻¹ HClO₄ and in the presence of 7.5 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ SDBS, a well-defined and sensitive oxidation peak was observed for telmisartan at the acetylene black (AB) paste electrode. However, the oxidation peak is poor-shaped and the peak current is very low in the absence of SDBS, suggesting that SDBS shows obvious enhancement effect for the determination of telmisartan. After all the experimental parameters were optimized, a sensitive and simple electrochemical method was developed for determining telmisartan. The oxidation peak current is proportional to the concentration of telmisartan over the range from 2.5 × 10⁻⁷ to 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹. The detection limit is 7.5 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ after 2 min of accumulation. This new voltammetric method was successfully used to detect telmisartan in drugs.     

Measurement of Tumor Vascular Damage in Mice with 99m Tc-MIBI Following Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract— The clinical perfusion agent ^99mTc-MIBI was used to monitor changes in tumor vascular perfusion (TVP) induced by Photofrin® (Pll)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT). BALB/c mice bearing an EMT-6 tumor on each hind thigh were given an intravenous injection of 1, 2 or 5 mg kg⁻¹ PII. Twenty-four hours later, one tumor was illuminated (600–650 run, 200 mW cm⁻² 400 J cm⁻²) while the other served as a control. At various time intervals after PDT (0, 2 and 24 h) mice received an intravenous injection of ^99mTc-hexakismethoxy(sobutyusonitri-le (MIBI) (0.18 MBq g⁻¹) and were sacrificed 2 min later. The light-treated and the untreated tumors were then dissected, the radioactivity was counted and the percentage of the injected dose per gram of tumor (%ID g⁻¹) was calculated as a measure of TVP. We observed that TVP is drug dose dependent, develops progressively with time post-PDT and is inversely related to PDT efficacy. Our data show that early tumor retention of ^99mMIBI is a simple method to assess TVP and vascular damage induced by PDT.     

Cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetric behaviour of guanine in the presence of copper at the static mercury drop electrode

The cathodic adsorptive electrochemical behavior of guanine in the presence of some metal ions at the static mercury drop electrode was investigated. A 1.0×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ NaOH or a 2.0×10⁻² mol l⁻¹ Hepes buffer at pH 8.0 solutions were used as supporting electrolytes. The reduction peak potential for guanine was found to be around −0.15 V, which is very close to the mercury reduction wave. A new peak appears at −0.60 V in the presence of copper or at −1.05 V in the presence of zinc. A square wave voltammetric procedure for electroanalytical determination of guanine in 2.0×10⁻² mol l⁻¹ Hepes buffer at pH 8.0 containing 1.6×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹of copper ions, was developed. An accumulation potential of −0.15 V during 270 s for the prior adsorption of guanine at the electrode surface was used. The response of the system was found to be linear in the range of guanine concentration from 6.62×10⁻⁸ to 1.32×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ and the detection limit was 7.0×10⁻⁹ mol l⁻¹. The influence of DNA bases such as adenine, cytosine and thymine was also examined. Cyclic voltammetry was used to characterize the interfacial and redox mechanism.     

Photodynamic activities of silicon phthalocyanines against achromic M6 melanoma cells and healthy human melanocytes and keratinocytes

Dichlorosilicon phthalocyanine (Cl2SiPc) and bis(tri-n-hexylsiloxy) silicon phthalocyanine (HexSiPc) have been evaluated in vitro as potential photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) against the human amelanotic melanoma cell line M6. Each photosensitizer is dissolved in a solvent-PBS mixture, or entrapped in egg-yolk lecithin liposomes or in Cremophor EL micelles. The cells are incubated for 1 h with the sensitizer and then irradiated for 20 min, 1 h or 2 h (lambda > 480 nm, 10 mW cm-2). The photocytotoxic effect is dependent on the photosensitizer concentration and the light dose. Higher phototoxicity is observed after an irradiation of 2 h: treatment with a solution of photosensitizer (2 x 10(-9) M) leads to 10% (HexSiPc in egg-yolk lecithin liposomes) or 20% (Cl2SiPc in DMF-PBS solution) cell viability. After 1 h incubation and 20 min of light exposure, the photodynamic effect is connected with the type of delivery system used. For HexSiPc, lower cell viability is found when this photosensitizer is entrapped in egg-yolk lecithin instead of solvent-PBS or for Cremophor EL micelles with Cl2SiPc. Liposome-delivered HexSiPc leads to lipid damage in M6 cells, illustrated by an increase of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARs), but the change is not significant with Cremophor EL. The same is observed for the antioxidative defences after photodynamic stress. The cells irradiated with HexSiPc entrapped in liposomes display an increase of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and a decrease of glutathione (GSH) level, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and catalase (Cat) activities.     

The Relationship of Phthalocyanine 4 (Pc 4) Concentrations Measured Noninvasively to Outcome of Pc 4 Photodynamic Therapy in Mice

The ability to noninvasively measure photosensitizer concentration at target tissues will allow optimization of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and could improve outcome. In this study, we evaluated whether preirradiation tumor phthalocyanine 4 (Pc 4) concentrations, measured noninvasively by the optical pharmacokinetic system (OPS), correlated with tumor response to PDT. Mice bearing human breast cancer xenografts were treated with 2 mg kg⁻¹ Pc 4 iv only, laser irradiation (150 J cm⁻²) only, Pc 4 followed by fractionated irradiation or Pc 4 followed by continuous irradiation. Laser irradiation treatment was initiated when the tumor to skin ratio of Pc 4 concentration reached a maximum of 2.1 at 48 h after administration. Pc 4 concentrations in tumor, as well as in Intralipid in vitro , decreased monoexponentially with laser fluence. Pc 4-PDT resulted in significant tumor regression, and tumor response was similar in the groups receiving either fractionated or continuous irradiation treatment after Pc 4. Tumor growth delay following Pc 4-PDT correlated with OPS-measured tumor Pc 4 concentrations at 24 h prior to PDT ( R ² = 0.86). In excised tumors, OPS-measured Pc 4 concentrations were similar to the HPLC-measured concentrations. Thus, OPS measurements of photosensitizer concentrations can be used to assist in the scheduling of Pc 4-PDT.     

Determination of fenoterol and salbutamol in pharmaceutical formulations by electrogenerated chemiluminescence

Fenoterol and salbutamol were determined by electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) coupled with flow injection analysis (FIA), using Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ as the luminescent substance. Fenoterol and salbutamol oxidize together with the ruthenium 2,2-bipyridyl at a platinum electrode, which leads to an increase in the luminescent intensity, and this increase is proportional to the analyte concentration. For fenoterol a linear calibration curve within the range from 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ was obtained with a correlation coefficient of 0.998 (n = 5) and for salbutamol the linear analytical curve was also obtained in this range with a correlation coefficient of 0.995 (n = 5). The relative standard deviation was estimated as ≤2.5% for 3 × 10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ for fenoterol solution and as ≤1.3% for 5.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ salbutamol solution for 15 successive injections. The limit of detection for fenoterol was 2.4 × 10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ and for salbutamol was 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹. Fenoterol and salbutamol were successfully determined in drug tablets and the soluble components of the matrix did not interfere in the luminescent emission. The results obtained using the luminescent methodology were not statistically different from those obtained by UV-spectrophotometry at 95% confidence level.     

Interactions of mercury(II), lead(II), calcium(II), aluminium(III) or ferric(III) nitrate with single and double chain linear alkylbenzenesulfonates in aqueous and sea-water media

The solubility products of mercury(II) and lead(II) dodecylbenzenesulfonates were calculated on the basis of light scattering measurements at 20°C to be (9.33 ± 0.90) × 10⁻¹³ and (1.03 ± 0.10) × 10⁻¹² respectively. The investigations of precipitation phenomena performed in diluted natural sea-water ([Cl⁻] = 10⁻¹² mol dm ⁻³), including tenside and added heavy metal ions, showed similar behaviour for all metal dodecylbenzenesulfonates investigated in this work, i.e. the synergistic effect of tenside, of added electrolyte, and of cations and anions from sea-water. A comparison made by a statistical test of significance, chosen to measure agreement between the estimates of the solubility constants obtained in aqueous solutions and in the above mentioned sea-water solution, showed a noticeable effect, evident particularly in the case of mercury(II). The precipitation of tenside and metal nitrates in natural sea-water ([Cl⁻] = 5 × 10⁻¹ mol dm⁻³) covers a wide concentration region of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (from high concentrations to 5 × 10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³) and from high metal nitrate concentrations to very low. The microscopic textures of phases precipitated in the systems with sea-water obviously confirmed favouring formation of the liquid crystalline phase.     

Simultaneous determination of creatine and creatinine using amperometric biosensors

In order to determine creatine and creatinine amperometric biosensors were proposed. A bienzymatic biosensor based on creatinase (CI) and sarcosine oxidase (SO) was used for the assay of creatine and a trienzymatic biosensor based on CI, SO and creatininase (CA) for the assay of creatinine. The linear concentration ranges are of pmol l⁻¹ to nmol l⁻¹ magnitude order, with very low limits of detection. The biosensors proved high reliability for determination of creatine and creatinine as raw material, and in the pharmaceutical formulation.     

Pharmacokinetics of 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced protoporphyrin IX in skin and blood

The fluorescence and photosensitivity of endogenously synthesized protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) is increasing used for the diagnosis and treatment of malignant and certain non-malignant diseases. A selective accumulation of PPIX can be induced by application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), which is a precursor of PPIX in the cellular biosynthetic pathway of heme.

The purpose of this study was to monitor the in vivo accumulation of PPIX in different locations of the skin after oral ingestion and to determine the pharmacokinetics of 5-ALA and PPIX in human blood plasma for various routes of application. At the same time we wanted to achieve an optimal treatment scheme but also study possible side-effects of 5-ALA administration.

After oral application of 5-ALA in a concentration of 40 mg kg⁻¹ body weight, the fluorescence intensities of PPIX in the skin showed maxima between 6.5 and 9.8 h depending on the location and decreased to values lower than 5% related to the maximum after a mean time of about 40 h. The measured absolute intensities of PPIX fluorescence varied strongly between different patients and different locations on one patient. In the plasma of blood samples, PPIX could be detected via its fluorescence for all studied routes of application with the exception of the ointment, where PPIX levels were below the detection limit of 1 μg l⁻¹. The highest mean concentration of 742 μg l⁻¹ PPIX in the plasma was measured 6.7 h after oral application. For inhalation of 5-ALA, a mean maximum concentration of 12 μg l⁻¹ could be detected 4.1 h after application, for intravesical instillation, the mean maximum concentration was found to be 1 μg l⁻¹ 2.9 h after application. The kinetics of 5-ALA in the plasma peaked much earlier with a maximum concentration of 32 mg l⁻¹ about 30 min. after oral administration. The 5-ALA levels did not exceed normal reference values after topical application.

The results of our experiments suggest that for a systemic application of 5-ALA side-effects in sensitive patients cannot be excluded.     

Determination of naringin in grapefruit juice by cathodic stripping differential pulse voltammetry at the hanging mercury drop electrode

A highly sensitive cathodic stripping voltammetric method for the determination of naringin is presented. It is based on the formation and accumulation of two naringin–mercury complexes at the electrode surface, followed by reduction of the surface species during a differential pulse voltammetric scan. The cathodic stripping responses at −0.25 V and −0.42 V, are evaluated with respect to various experimental conditions, such as composition and pH of the supporting electrolyte, naringin concentration, accumulation potential and preconcentration time. The new method is suitable for the determination of naringin concentrations between 0.1 mg l⁻¹ (1.72×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹) and 40 mg l⁻¹ (6.88×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹). A 3σ limit of detection of 32 μg l⁻¹ (55 nmol l⁻¹) can be reached. The relative standard deviation (r.s.d.) is <1.5%. Recovery experiments yielded a mean recovery of 97% (r.s.d.=4.1%). The application of the procedure to the selective determination of naringin in grapefruit juice is demonstrated.     

PHOTODYNAMIC EFFECTS OF NEW SILICON PHTHALOCYANINES: In vitro STUDIES UTILIZING RAT HEPATIC MICROSOMES AND HUMAN ERYTHROCYTE GHOSTS AS MODEL MEMBRANE SOURCES

Abstract— Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer is a modality that relies upon the irradiation of tumors with visible light following selective uptake of a photosensitizer by the tumor tissue. There is considerable emphasis to define new photosensitizers suitable for PDT of cancer. In this study we evaluated six phthalocyanines (Pc) for their photodynamic effects utilizing rat hepatic microsomes and human erythrocyte ghosts as model membrane sources. Of the newly synthesized Pc, two showed significant destruction of cytochrome P-450 and monooxygenase activities, and enhancement of lipid peroxidation, when added to microsomal suspension followed by irradiation with ∼ 675 nm light. These two Pc named SiPc IV (HOSiPcOSi[CH₃]₂[CH₂]₃N[CH₃]₂) and SiPc V (HOSiPcOSi[CH₃]₂[CH₂]₃N[CH₃]₃¹ I) showed dose-dependent photodestruction of cytochrome P-450 and monooxygenase activities in liver microsomes, and photoenhancement of lipid peroxidation, lipid hydroperoxide formation and lipid fluorescence in rnicrosomes and erythrocyte ghosts. Compared to chloroaluminum phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate, SiPc IV and SiPc V produced far more pronounced photodynamic effects. Sodium azide, histidine, and 2,5-dimethylfuran, the quenchers of singlet oxygen, afforded highly significant protection against SiPc IV- and SiPc V-mediated photodynamic effects. However, to a lesser extent, the quenchers of superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical also showed some protective effects. These results suggest that SiPc IV and SiPc V may be promising photosensitizers for the PDT of cancer.     

Flow-injection in-line complexation for ion-pair reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography of some metal-4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol chelates

Flow injection (FI) was coupled to ion-pair reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (IP-RPHPLC) for the simultaneous analysis of some metal-4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) chelates. A simple reverse flow injection (rFI) set-up was used for in-line complexation of metal-PAR chelates prior to their separation by IP-RPHPLC. The rFI conditions were: injection volume of PAR 85 μL, flow rate of metal stream 4.5 mL min⁻¹, concentration of PAR 1.8 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ and the mixing coil length of 150 cm. IP-RPHPLC was carried out using a C₁₈ μBondapak column with the mobile phase containing 37% acetonitrile, 3.0 mmol L⁻¹ acetate buffer pH 6.0 and 6.2 mmol L⁻¹ tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹ and visible detection at 530 and 440 nm. The analysis cycle including in-line complexation and separation by IP-RPHPLC was 16 min, which able to separate Cr(VI) and the PAR chelates of Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II).     

Meso-Tetraphenylporphyrin Dimer Derivative as a Potential Photosensitizer in Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract— Studies on the synthesis, preliminary in vivo biological activity, singlet oxygen and fluorescence yields of a di-meric porphyrin (Dl) are described. The pharmacokinetic behavior and photodynamic properties of the dimer Dl were examined in Balb/c mice bearing an MS-2 fibrosarcoma. Compound Dl shows a high selectivity for tumor localization (tumor/peritumoral tissue ratios of dye concentration ranging between ca 100 and 140 at 24 h after drug administration of 5.0-1.0 mg kg_-1 into DL-AL-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes). The photo-therapeutic efficiency of dimer Dl was evaluated by following the growth curves of fibrosarcoma irradiated with red light (600-700 nm) with a total dose of 400 J cm_-2, at 24 h after intravenous injection. Photodynamic therapy-treated tumors showed a significant delay in growth as compared to untreated control mice. The results obtained suggest that the porphyrin dimer Dl may be a promising candidate for further use in PDT experiments.     

Time measurement-visual analysis of nickel(II) using autocatalytic reaction with sodium sulfite/hydrogen peroxide system and its application to the length detection-flow analysis

Trace amounts of nickel(II) can function as a trigger (=reaction initiator) in an autocatalytic reaction with the sodium sulfite/hydrogen peroxide system. Based on this finding, sub-μg L⁻¹ levels of nickel(II) were determined by a time measurement using the autocatalytic reaction. The detection range using the above method was 10⁻⁹–10⁻⁵ M, the detection limit (3σ) was 8.1 × 10⁻¹⁰ M (0.047 μg L⁻¹), and the relative standard deviation was 2.66% at nickel(II) concentration of 10⁻⁷ M (n = 7). This method was applied to length detection-flow injection analysis. The detection range for the flow injection analysis was 2 × 10⁻⁹–2 × 10⁻³ M. The detection limit (3σ) was 1.4 × 10⁻⁹ M (0.082 μg L⁻¹), and the relative standard deviation was 1.86 at initial nickel(II) concentration of 10⁻⁶ M (n = 7).