Photodynamic action of merocyanine 540 on plasma membrane of glioblastoma cells

Abstract

Structural modifications in plasma membrane of human glioblastoma cells induced by photodynamic action of merocyanine 540 (MC540) were investigated using lipid and protein specific fluorescent probes. Photoirradiation of MC540 treated cells caused a decrease in the steady state anisotropy, decay time, limiting anisotropy and order parameter with an increase in the cone angle and rotational relaxation time of trimethylammonium 1,6-diphenyl- 1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH). Increase in the lipid peroxidation, loss of SH groups, increase in the relaxation time of N-(1-Pyrene)-maleimide (PM) and cross linking of proteins were also observed on photosensitization of cells. These results suggest that photosensitization alters the structural organization of plasma membrane of glioblastoma cells.