Photochemical effects of chloroaluminum-sulfonated phthalocyanine in arteries with intimal hyperplasia

The present study uses photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of IH in the rat carotid artery model. PDT is a relatively new cancer treatment technique which utilizes light-activated photosensitizers (PS) to produce injury to targeted cells. PS have no cytotoxic effects unless they are activated by the appropriate wavelength of light. Upon absorption of a photon, the activated PS can either by directly cytotoxic or give rise to cytotoxic oxygen species, commonly singlet oxygen, via energy transfer to the ground state molecular oxygen. Singlet oxygen then becomes the mediator of cellular injury by affecting cellular membranes and subcellular organelles.