MC540 INDUCED PHOTOSENSITIZATION OF GLIOMA AND NEUROBLASTOMA-CELLS

Binding and photodynamic action of merocyanine 540 (MC540) has been st udied in glioma (U-87MG) and neuroblastoma (Neuro 2A) cells as a funct ion of dye concentration, incubation time of cells with MC540 and grow th phase of cells. In the plateau phase, U-87MG cells accumulated more MC540 as compared to exponentially growing cells, whereas in Neuro 2A cells the opposite effect was observed. Exponentially growing U-87MG cells were more photosensitive than plateau phase cells. However, the photosensitivity of Neuro 2A cells was not dependent on the growth pha se. Thus, MC540 mediated photosensitization may be useful for photodyn amic therapy of brain tumours.