<title>Comparative photodynamic effect of rose bengal, Erythrosin B, and dihematoporphyrin ethers on lens epithelial cells</title>

Abstract

The proliferation of residual lens epithelial cells (LEC) is responsible for reopacification of the lens capsule and loss of visual acuity after cataract surgery. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using Di-Hematoporphyrin Ether (DHE) was shown to kill cultured LEC. We studied 2 synthetic photodynamic drugs: Rose Bengal (RB) and Erythrosin B (EB) to determine the minimal PDT parameters. LEC located on the anterior capsule of freshly explanted rabbit lenses were subcultured for the following studies: (1) Dye uptake was evaluated by cellular fluorescence. The minimum concentrations for RB and EB after 1 minute of exposure were 1 (mu) g/ml, and 50 (mu) g/ml; (2) Cytotoxicity was evaluated by reculturing the cells, and was detectable with concentrations of 200 (mu) g/ml RB or 2000 (mu) g/ml EB; (3) The PDT effect was evaluated using concentrations of 1 to 25 (mu) g/ml of RB and 1 to 2000 (mu) g/ml of EB. The minimum parameters for PDT of cultured LEC were 0.5 (mu) g/ml of RB and 10 (mu) g/ml of EB with a 60 second 0.5 W/cm<SUP>2</SUP> irradiation using a 514.5 nm Argon laser. To mimic the in vivo setting, LEC attached to the anterior lens capsule were incubated with EB to evaluate dye uptake. The minimum parameters were 100 (mu) g/ml and 7 minutes of exposure. RB was found most effective and may be useful, but EB was found safer and has potential for conjugation with LEC antibodies for the prevention of secondary cataracts.