PHOTODYNAMIC SENSITIZERS FROM CHLOROPHYLL:PURPURIN–18 AND CHLORINp6

Abstract— Two easily prepared derivatives of chlorophyll,purpurin–18 and chlorin p ₆, are potent sensitizers of cell killing by low-intensity red light. The internal anhydride group inpurpurin–18 provides the potential of covalently linking in one step the chlorin to cell targeting agents such as antibodies.     

Seed Germination and Early Growth Responses to Seed Pre-treatment by Non-thermal Plasma in Hemp Cultivars (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cannabis sativa</Emphasis> L.)

The two key questions addressed in this paper were whether different cultivars of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) have the same reactions to non-thermal plasma seed pre-treatments and whether different plasma sources have different effects on the seeds. Seed germination and early growth of hemp in design of hierarchical analysis of variance was conducted. Differences in response among seeds of three hemp cultivars (‘Finola’, ‘Bialobrzeskie’, ‘Carmagnola’) to the non-thermal plasma pre-treatment generated by two apparatuses (gliding arc and downstream microwave devices) in four time expositions (0, 180, 300, 600 s) were found. The high importance was found in type of apparatus and time exposition. A positive/neutral effect was observed in all measured characteristics after gliding arc plasma pre-treatment. Gliding arc pre-treatment increased the length of seedlings, seedling accretion and weight of seedling in both cv. ‘Finola’ and cv. ‘Bialobrzeskie’ hemp. On the other hand, the downstream microwave apparatus had an inhibiting effect on all tested hemp cultivars. It was the first time when significant differences in response to non-thermal pre-treatment were found in taxonomically close plants. The results obtained in this study describes different effect of various plasma treatment on germination and early growth of hemp seeds. The direct pre-treatment of non-thermal plasma discharge in condition of atmospheric pressure was better. Results of our experiment show that the use of non-thermal plasma pre-treatment may increase survival of some hemp cultivars during seedlings establishment in a drier period and may be used in new agro-technical measures in unconventional agriculture.     

EFFECTIVENESS OF PHOTOFRIN II IN ACIWATION OF MACROPHAGES AND in vitro KILLING OF RETINOBLASTOMA CELLS

Abstract Administration of a small dose (300 ng/mouse) of photofrin II (PII) to mice, followed by 4 days of exposure to only ambient fluorescent light in animal quarters, induced Fc-receptor-mediated phagocytic and superoxide-generating capacities of peritoneal macrophages by five- and seven-fold, respectively. When these mice were kept in the dark for 4 days, no activation of macrophages was observed. These results suggest that macrophage activation is a consequence of photodynamic activation. Much higher doses (> 3000 ng/mouse) suppressed macrophage activity. However, 2 months after administration of 3000 ng PII/mouse, greatly enhanced phagocytic and superoxide-generating capacities of peritoneal macrophages were observed.
In vitro photodynamic activation of macrophages was analyzed after white or red fluorescent light exposure of mouse peritoneal cells (mixture of macrophages and B and T lymphocytes) in media containing PII. A short (10 s) white fluorescent light treatment of peritoneal cells in a medium containing 0.03 ng PII/mL produced the maximal level of phagocytic activity of macrophages. Illumination with the same total fluence of red fluorescent light requires a threefold higher concentration of PII to achieve the same extent of enhanced phagocytic activity of macrophages. Thus, photodynamic activation of macrophages with PII by white fluorescent light was more efficient than by red fluorescent light. Similarly, photodynamic killing of retinoblastoma cells was more efficient with white than red fluorescent light. The concentration of hematoporphyrin (HP) or PII required for direct photodynamic killing of retinoblastoma cells was roughly four orders of magnitude greater than that required for activation of macrophages. These results suggest that effective photodynamic therapy may be achieved with milder treatments that stimulate macrophage activity, an important component of immunopotentiation.     

PEROXIDASE MEDIATED CHEMILUMINESCENCE WITH PHENOL DERIVATIVES. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND USES IN BIOLOGICAL ASSAYS

Abstract— The influence of pH and concentration of reagents on the chemiluminescence emitted during peroxidase mediated oxidation of phenol derivatives was studied. Maximal light emission was determined under conditions where chemiluminescence due to auto-oxidation was negligible. With phloroglucinol and purpurogallin as substrates, a direct proportionality was obtained between the concentration of peroxidase and the maximal light emission. p-Phenylenediamine enhances 8-fold the light emitted with purpurogallin. With resorcinol as substrate the relation between concentration of enzyme and maximal light emission gives an S-shaped curve. With pyrogallol the light emitted is proportional to the square of the concentration of peroxidase.