Detection of singlet oxygen yield from new photosensitizers using luminol

For the application of photodynamic therapy and diagnosis many different photosensitizers have been developed. It is important to compare these photosensitizers for their activity. It is generally accepted that the most important mechanism of cell killing is via the production of singlet oxygen. We therefore performed basic studies to detect singlet oxygen using a luminol reaction. The relative singlet oxygen yields from 4 photosensitizers (Photofrin, ATX-S10, mTHPC and NPe6) were measured by the detection of luminol chemiluminescence at 445 nm wavelength in Menzel's buffer solution at pH 10.5. NPe6, ATX-S10 and mTHPC all showed singlet oxygen productive abilities. These photosensitizers are new promising photosensitizers. These results show a possibility of comparison of each photosensitizer.