A novel pro-apoptotic role of zinc octacarboxyphthalocyanine in melanoma me45 cancer cell's photodynamic therapy (PDT)

Zn-based phthalocyanine acts as drug or photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of cancer cells. The activated zinc octacarboxyphthalocyanine (ZnPcOC) reacts with oxygen, to generate reactive oxygen species for the damage of melanoma cancer cells, Me45. This in vitro study aimed at investigating the cytotoxic effects of different concentrations of ZnPcOC activated with a diode laser (λ = 685 nm) on Me45, and normal human fibroblast cells, NHDF. To perform this study 10⁴ cells/ml were seeded in 96-well plates and allowed to attach overnight, after which cells were treated with different concentrations of ZnPcOC (10, 20 and 30 μM). After 4 h, cells were irradiated with a constant light dose of 2.5; 4.5 and 7.5 J/cm². Post-irradiated cells were incubated for 24 h before cell viability was measured using the MTT viability assay. Data indicated that high concentrations of ZnPcOC (30 μM) in its inactive state are not cytotoxic to the melanoma cancer cells and normal fibroblasts. Moreover, the results showed that photoactivated ZnPcOC (30 μM) was able to reduce the cell viability of melanoma and fibroblast to about 50%, respectively. At this photosensitizing concentration the efficacy the treatment light dose of 2.5; 4.5 and 7.5 J/cm² was evaluated against Me45 cells. ZnPcOC at a concentration of 30 μM activated with a light dose of 2.5; 4.5 and 7.5 J/cm² was the most efficient for the killing of melanoma cancer cells. Melanoma cancer cells after PDT with a photosensitizing concentration of 30 μM ZnPcOC and a treatment light dose of 2.5; 4.5 and 7.5 J/cm² showed certain pro-apoptotic characteristics, such as direct inducer (early apoptosis) and long-term inducer, also (late apoptosis). This concludes that low concentrations of ZnPcOC, activated with the appropriate light dose, can be used to induce cell death in melanoma cells via ROS-induces apoptosis pathway, what was confirmed with cytometric ROS measurements. Our in vitro study showed that ZnPcOC mediated photodynamic therapy is an effective treatment option for melanoma Me45 cancer cells. 30 μM of ZnPcOC with the treatment light dose of 2.5 J/cm² from a LED diode laser source, with a wavelength of 685 nm, was adequate to destroy melanoma cancer cells via ROS-induced apoptosis pathway, with low killing effects on healthy NHDF normal fibroblasts.