Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cancer treatment that can specifically kill cells through exposure to light.  There is a need for improved PDT drugs.  An ideal PDT drug exhibits high cytotoxicity at low concentrations after exposure to light, while maintaining low cytotoxicity in the dark.  The drug must be soluble in water in order to be delivered through the blood, but it must also demonstrate some lipid solubility in order to cross the cell membrane.  Five new porphyrins were analyzed as photosensitizers in vitro.  Each porphyrin was tested for phototoxicity on four different cell types at different concentrations to obtain a concentration curve.  The dark toxicity of each agent was measured, as well.  The distribution coefficients for the porphyrins varied widely.  Several porphyrins showed high toxicity at low concentrations, making them good candidates for PDT.  These compounds will be used to develop a next generation of derivatives with superior properties.

Analysis of new agents for photodynamic therapy

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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