Astro Ltd. logo Astro Ltd. logo In vitro study of 5-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy for apoptosis in human cervical HeLa cell line

Abstract

5-aminolevulanic acid (ALA), belonging among the promising second generation of sensitizers, was evaluated as an inducer of photodamage on HeLa (human cervical adenocarcinoma) cell line. A diode laser (635 nm) was used as a source for initiation of the photodynamic effect. We studied the influence of different incubation times, various concentrations of sensitizer, different irradiation doses and various combinations of sensitizer and light doses on the photodamage of HeLa cells. Viability of cells was determined by means of neutral red assay. The quantitative cellular uptake of ALA sensitizer was done by spectrophotometric measurements. No prominent cytotoxic or phototoxic effects on HeLa were observed due to sensitizer or light doses when studied independently of each other. However phototoxicity evoked by laser irradiated sensitizer was detected in HeLa cell line.