Studies of photophysical characteristics and in vitro photocytotoxicity of photosensitizer dimegine

In the represented work, a study of a low-toxic photosensitizer of dimegine (disodium salt of 2,4-di (alphamethoxyethyl) -deuteroporphyrin-IX ”) was carried out. The quantum yields of singlet oxygen generation and fluorescence as the main photophysical characteristics of the photosensitizer were studied. To ensure the stability of dimegine upon irradiation, its photobleaching coefficient was investigated. The photocytotoxicity was studied on four cell lines: U87 – human primary glioblastoma cell line, RG2 – rat glioma cell lines, HT1372 – human bladder cancer cell line, AY27 – rat bladder carcinoma cell line. The same cell lines were used in cells distribution studies. Results of this research have shown high effectiveness of photodynamic therapy with dimegine under irradiation by light with a wavelength of 530 nm and 625 nm. Images, received after photosensitizer distribution studies, demonstrated dimegine’s primary location in cell's organelles, thereby allowing to make the assumption about domination of apoptosis over necrosis as mechanism of cell death.