In vivo and in vitro investigation of photosensitizer-adsorbed superparamagnetic nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy

Superparamagnetic particles of Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/ were nanometrically synthesized by coprecipitation. Hematoporphyrin (HP) and 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) were used as photosensitizers, which were adsorbed on magnetic particles. The adsorption rates of HP and ALA were observed to 2.0% and 12.5% by UV spectrometry and the pico-tag method, respectively. The toxicity of the magnetic fluids was estimated using Sprague-Dawley rats. The photodynamic effect of the photosensitizer-adsorbed magnetic fluids was examined with a human lung cancer cell, for which the light doses were applied to 400 mJ/cm/sup 3/.