SYNERGISM OF PHOTODYNAMIC AND ELECTROPERMEATION EFFECTS ON CELL VITALITY AS A NOVEL CYTOTOXIC AGENT

摘要

The present invention is based on the discovery that electroporation of a photosensitive agent in a cell and subsequent activation of the agent provid es more effective killing of the electroporated cell than cells exposed to a photosensitive agent alone. The invention provides a method and apparatus fo r inhibiting cell growth or enhancing cell death. The method includes providin g a photosensitive agent to a cell; applying an electric pulse to the cell of a sufficient strength and duration to electroporate the cell with the photosensitive agent; and applying light of an activatable wavelength to the cell thereby activating the agent and inhibiting cell growth or enhancing ce ll death.