- Email: [email protected]
Production and characterisation of acrylate-based microparticles for photosensitizer incorporation to their surfaces
A44
Abstracts / Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy 17 (2017) A4–A78
dure includes the light activation of a non-toxic photosensitizer (PS) which by local irradiation with red or infrared spectra (630–850 nm) and in the presence of molecular oxygen initiates the electronic conversion in the PS molecule. A number of different phototoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced but dominantly the cytotoxic singlet oxygen. Nowadays a-PDT with phthalocyanines is intensively studied for a number of practical usages such as prophylactics, clinical treatment of acute infections and ecology supportive functions. The presentation aims to summarize our more than ten years of experience with different new phthalocyanines synthesized together with colleagues from Bremen University (Prof. D. Wöhrle) and Gebze Technical University (Prof. M. Durmus¸). Mainly watersoluble cationic phthalocyanine complexes with Zn(II), Al(III), Ga(III), In(III), Si(IV), Ge(IV), Lu(III) have been synthesized by a purpose to be studied as antimicrobial sensitizers towards pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses). Additionally the hydrophobic metal phthalocyanines immobilized on polypropylene granules or non-toxic metal oxides and polymeric vesicles were studied for antimicrobial photodisinfection of water resources. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2017.01.097 Poster PA-008 Porphycenes as photosensitizers: Photodestruction of bacteria N. Masiera 1,∗ , A. Bojarska 2 , I. Gawryszewska 2 , J. Waluk 1 1
Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland 2 National Medicines Institute, Warsaw, Poland From the beginning of the 21st century the scientific world has been paying a great attention to the problem of growing resistance of bacteria to the available antibiotics. Since the problem is the matter of life and death and is growing fast, new cures are required to be developed as quickly as possible. An approach that recently gained a substantial interest is photodynamic therapy (PDT) or, in the case of bacteria, photosensitized destruction, and the variety of photosensitizers have been studied in terms of their potential antimicrobial utility.
In this work we show the promising results of using porphycene (Pc) as a photosensitizer for destruction of three different Gram-positive strains of bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococus faecalis. The strains of bacteria selected for the studies accompany our daily life, inhabiting mostly the digestive track of humans and other mammals. They are abundant and usually not harmful, but they might cause life-threatening infections when entering the surgery or burn wounds. Particularly dangerous are the multidrug-resistant species that thrive in the nosocomial environment. Unsubstituted Pc was selected in preliminary studies from the range of different porphycenes, due to the best ability to stain the
cells and the best stability in pluronic F-127 solution that was used to deliver the compound to bacteria [1]. For all three strains of bacteria we observed the decrease in the number of colony forming units by at least six orders of magnitude, during the time of experiment. The dose of light that was used to discard all of the microbes was 30 J/cm2 in the case of S. aureus and E. faecalis, applied during 50 min of irradiation with red light. For S. epidermidis the dose was even lower (6 J/cm2 , 10 min irradiation). Reference ´ ´ [1] N. Masiera, J. Buczynska, G. Orzanowska, H. Piwonski, J. Waluk, Methods Appl. Fluoresc. 2 (2014) 024003.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2017.01.098 Poster PA-009 Production and characterisation of acrylate-based microparticles for photosensitizer incorporation to their surfaces J.V. Moore ∗ , C.P. McCoy, L. Carson, N.J. Irwin, G.P. Andrews School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom Introduction: Photosensitisers (PSs) are agents that generate cytotoxic species, in the presence of oxygen, when illuminated with low intensity light from the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum [1]. Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) exploits the cytotoxic nature of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) to destroy a range of microorganisms. PACT has a range of potential applications, from treating infections to the production of materials with inherent antimicrobial properties. Previous work carried out by the McCoy et al. group demonstrated the permanent localisation of PSs to hydrogel surfaces for antimicrobial applications, such as the development of a novel photoactive intraocular lens biomaterial [2–4]. For such materials the available surface area (SA) directly influences the quantity of PS incorporation, thus potentially affecting its microbicidal activity. In this study we report the production and characterisation of acrylate-based microparticles, of varying compositions and sizes, which will provide large SAs for permanent PS attachment. Methods: Five polymer monoliths with different chemical and physical characteristics were synthesised via free radical polymerisation: p(HEMA), p(HEMA-co-MAA), p(HEMA-co-DEAEMA), p(HEMA-co-MMA), and p(MMA). An oscillatory ball mill (Retsch MM200) was used to mechanically break up the polymer films to produce particles within the micron size range. Milling parameters were kept constant except for milling duration, which ranged from 1 to 12 min depending on the material’s physical hardness. The particles produced were separated using sieves with a range of pore sizes: 45, 63, 90, 180, 250, and 355 m. A Keyence digital microscope was used to further analyse the particle size distribution and quality for each sample. The p(HEMA-co-MAA) microparticles produced following 2 min of milling were chosen for initial PS incorporation studies. A concentrated cationic PS solution was used to load the p(HEMA-co-MAA) particles, with the PS uptake for the different sized particles examined. Results: A 4 min milling duration was considered optimum for the three brittle, non-MMA containing polymers. The physically hard, MMA-containing particles had an overall improved quality, however, considerably less of the particles produced fell into the 0–90 m size range despite the extended milling periods (up to 12 min). The p(HEMA-co-MAA) microparticles were taken forward
Abstracts / Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy 17 (2017) A4–A78
for preliminary PS incorporation studies. Similar to the method used in previous work to permanently localise PSs to hydrogel surfaces, a cationic PS was electrostatically bound to the carboxylate groups of the MAA-containing particles [2–4]. Initial studies suggest successful uptake of the PS by the particles, with an increase in uptake with an increase in particle SA. Conclusion: A ball milling technique was successfully employed to produce an array of acrylate-based microparticles. Initial analysis of PS uptake by the p(HEMA-co-MAA) microparticles suggest the potential for these particles, along with the other candidate particles, to provide large SAs for PS incorporation and subsequent photo-catalytic generation of ROS. 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA); methacrylic acid (MAA); 2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA); methyl methacrylate (MMA)
References [1] [2] [3] [4]
M.R. Hamblin, T. Hasan, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. 3 (5) (2004) 436–450. C. Brady, et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 111 (3) (2007) 527–534. C. Parsons, et al., Biomaterials 30 (4) (2009) 597–602. C.P. McCoy, et al., Biomaterials 33 (32) (2012) 7952–7958.
5.80 ± 0.65 to S. aureus; 3.83 ± 0.26 and 3.79 ± 0.25 to S. epidermidis; and, 1.38 ± 0.61 and 1.59 ± 0.49 to P. aeruginosa. In multispecies biofilms of C. albicans and S. aureus, the reductions of dispersed cells, and cells from biofilms were, respectively: 0.61 ± 0.29 and 0.71 ± 0.34 to C. albicans; and 1.65 ± 0.64 and 1.90 ± 0.73 to S. aureus. In the association of C. albicans and S. epidermidis, the reductions of dispersed cells, and cells from biofilms were, respectively: 0.89 ± 0.38 and 1.11 ± 0.42 to C. albicans; and 2.01 ± 0.58 and 1.35 ± 0.60 to S. epidermidis. To multispecies biofilms of C. albicans and P. aeruginosa, the reductions of dispersed cells, and cells from biofilms were, respectively: 0.85 ± 0.59 and 0.99 ± 0.34 to C. albicans; and 0.54 ± 0.35 and 0.79 ± 0.40 to P. aeruginosa. In SEM there was a decrease of cells in biofilms submitted to PDT. Based on the current results, it can be concluded that PDT promoted antimicrobial effects in the monospecies and multispecies biofilms formed by C. albicans, S. aureus, S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa, and might be a useful approach for the control of these communities and disease caused by these microorganisms. Acknowledgements: FAPESP Scholarship 2013/07411-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2017.01.100
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2017.01.099
Poster PA-011
Poster PA-010
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy with halogenated tetrapyrrolic photosensitizers: From molecules to highly efficient photoinactivation of drug-resistant pathogens
Monospecies and multispecies biofilms of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are affected by antimicrobial photodynamic therapy C.A. Pereira-Correia, A.O.C. Jorge ∗ UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista, Institute of Science and Technology, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil Microorganisms form biofilms as a means of defense and of facilitating physiologic processes. The organization in biofilm protects the microorganisms, and increases their resistance to antimicrobial agents. Furthermore, biofilm formation is enhanced by coaggregation, which is the adhesion of two or more microorganism species. Thus, alternative and complementary treatments such as antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT) for control of biofilms, in particular those formed by the association of fungi and bacteria become necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of the PDT in monospecies and multispecies biofilms of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biofilms were formed by all microorganism isolated, and by association of C. albicans with each bacteria for 48 h. After, the effects of the photosensitizer erythrosine (ER) at 600 M for 5 min and green light-emitting diode (LED – 532 ± 10 nm) for 180 s, alone and conjugated were evaluated in the cells dispersed from biofilms and cells into biofilms. Biofilms controls, without treatment with ER and LED also were included. Next, the biofilms were dispersed and seeded onto specific culture media. After 48 h, the interaction between the microorganisms and the antimicrobial effect of PDT were verified by counting colony-forming units (CFU/mL log10), and the data were submitted to statistical analysis (p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of all biofilms treated with antimicrobial PDT and controls were also performed. The assays with green LED and ER solution did not exerted significant antimicrobial effects when used alone. Significant decreases in the viability of all microorganisms were observed for biofilms exposed to PDT mediated by LED and ER photosensitizer. The reductions (CFU log10) of dispersed cells, and cells from monospecies biofilms were, respectively: 1.13 ± 0.25 and 1.15 ± 0.63 to C. albicans; 4.53 ± 1.20 and
A45
B. Pucelik 1,∗ , R. Paczynski 2 , N.P.F. Goncalves 3 , M.M. Pereira 3 , L.G. Arnaut 3 , J.M. Dabrowski 1 1
Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland 2 Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland 3 QCQ Chemistry Department, University of Coimbra & Luzitin SA Ed. Bluepharma Coimbra, Portugal Photosensitizers based on tetrapyrrolic framework are currently highly attractive targets for the development of novel therapeutic agents not only for traditional photodynamic therapy of cancer (PDT), but also photodynamic inactivation o microorganisms (PDI), that is widely considered as alternative strategy to antibiotic chemotherapy of infective diseases [1,2]. The main focus of this work is to compare the physicochemical and photophysical properties of the series of structurally related halogenated porphyrins and its reduced derivatives (bacteriochlorins) in the context of their PDT/PDI applications. The mechanistic studies concerning reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by these compounds are also highlighted. All of tested photosensitizers showed favorable characteristics due to strong absorption in visible or near infrared region of spectrum and high singlet oxygen and/or oxygen-centered radicals quantum yields. The results indicate that chemical modification of the macrocycle by tunable substituents can provide an access to the biological properties needed for efficient treatment. The in vitro photodynamic activity of selected compounds was examined against a variety of cancer (e.g. HeLa, A549, CT26, 2H11) and normal (HaCaT) cells well as three different classes of microbial species included Gram-positive (S. aureus, E. faecalis, B. subtilis), Gram-negative (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. marcescens) bacteria and fungal yeast (C. albicans). The optimal formulation for photosensitizers (if desired) and their time-dependent cellular uptake were described. Investigated molecules revealed structure dependent phototoxicity against all cancer cells. However, the death of pathogens was strongly dependent on the PS concentration, delivered light dose/illumination time as well as
Abstracts / Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy 17 (2017) A4–A78
dure includes the light activation of a non-toxic photosensitizer (PS) which by local irradiation with red or infrared spectra (630–850 nm) and in the presence of molecular oxygen initiates the electronic conversion in the PS molecule. A number of different phototoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced but dominantly the cytotoxic singlet oxygen. Nowadays a-PDT with phthalocyanines is intensively studied for a number of practical usages such as prophylactics, clinical treatment of acute infections and ecology supportive functions. The presentation aims to summarize our more than ten years of experience with different new phthalocyanines synthesized together with colleagues from Bremen University (Prof. D. Wöhrle) and Gebze Technical University (Prof. M. Durmus¸). Mainly watersoluble cationic phthalocyanine complexes with Zn(II), Al(III), Ga(III), In(III), Si(IV), Ge(IV), Lu(III) have been synthesized by a purpose to be studied as antimicrobial sensitizers towards pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses). Additionally the hydrophobic metal phthalocyanines immobilized on polypropylene granules or non-toxic metal oxides and polymeric vesicles were studied for antimicrobial photodisinfection of water resources. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2017.01.097 Poster PA-008 Porphycenes as photosensitizers: Photodestruction of bacteria N. Masiera 1,∗ , A. Bojarska 2 , I. Gawryszewska 2 , J. Waluk 1 1
Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland 2 National Medicines Institute, Warsaw, Poland From the beginning of the 21st century the scientific world has been paying a great attention to the problem of growing resistance of bacteria to the available antibiotics. Since the problem is the matter of life and death and is growing fast, new cures are required to be developed as quickly as possible. An approach that recently gained a substantial interest is photodynamic therapy (PDT) or, in the case of bacteria, photosensitized destruction, and the variety of photosensitizers have been studied in terms of their potential antimicrobial utility.
In this work we show the promising results of using porphycene (Pc) as a photosensitizer for destruction of three different Gram-positive strains of bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococus faecalis. The strains of bacteria selected for the studies accompany our daily life, inhabiting mostly the digestive track of humans and other mammals. They are abundant and usually not harmful, but they might cause life-threatening infections when entering the surgery or burn wounds. Particularly dangerous are the multidrug-resistant species that thrive in the nosocomial environment. Unsubstituted Pc was selected in preliminary studies from the range of different porphycenes, due to the best ability to stain the
cells and the best stability in pluronic F-127 solution that was used to deliver the compound to bacteria [1]. For all three strains of bacteria we observed the decrease in the number of colony forming units by at least six orders of magnitude, during the time of experiment. The dose of light that was used to discard all of the microbes was 30 J/cm2 in the case of S. aureus and E. faecalis, applied during 50 min of irradiation with red light. For S. epidermidis the dose was even lower (6 J/cm2 , 10 min irradiation). Reference ´ ´ [1] N. Masiera, J. Buczynska, G. Orzanowska, H. Piwonski, J. Waluk, Methods Appl. Fluoresc. 2 (2014) 024003.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2017.01.098 Poster PA-009 Production and characterisation of acrylate-based microparticles for photosensitizer incorporation to their surfaces J.V. Moore ∗ , C.P. McCoy, L. Carson, N.J. Irwin, G.P. Andrews School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom Introduction: Photosensitisers (PSs) are agents that generate cytotoxic species, in the presence of oxygen, when illuminated with low intensity light from the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum [1]. Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) exploits the cytotoxic nature of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) to destroy a range of microorganisms. PACT has a range of potential applications, from treating infections to the production of materials with inherent antimicrobial properties. Previous work carried out by the McCoy et al. group demonstrated the permanent localisation of PSs to hydrogel surfaces for antimicrobial applications, such as the development of a novel photoactive intraocular lens biomaterial [2–4]. For such materials the available surface area (SA) directly influences the quantity of PS incorporation, thus potentially affecting its microbicidal activity. In this study we report the production and characterisation of acrylate-based microparticles, of varying compositions and sizes, which will provide large SAs for permanent PS attachment. Methods: Five polymer monoliths with different chemical and physical characteristics were synthesised via free radical polymerisation: p(HEMA), p(HEMA-co-MAA), p(HEMA-co-DEAEMA), p(HEMA-co-MMA), and p(MMA). An oscillatory ball mill (Retsch MM200) was used to mechanically break up the polymer films to produce particles within the micron size range. Milling parameters were kept constant except for milling duration, which ranged from 1 to 12 min depending on the material’s physical hardness. The particles produced were separated using sieves with a range of pore sizes: 45, 63, 90, 180, 250, and 355 m. A Keyence digital microscope was used to further analyse the particle size distribution and quality for each sample. The p(HEMA-co-MAA) microparticles produced following 2 min of milling were chosen for initial PS incorporation studies. A concentrated cationic PS solution was used to load the p(HEMA-co-MAA) particles, with the PS uptake for the different sized particles examined. Results: A 4 min milling duration was considered optimum for the three brittle, non-MMA containing polymers. The physically hard, MMA-containing particles had an overall improved quality, however, considerably less of the particles produced fell into the 0–90 m size range despite the extended milling periods (up to 12 min). The p(HEMA-co-MAA) microparticles were taken forward
Abstracts / Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy 17 (2017) A4–A78
for preliminary PS incorporation studies. Similar to the method used in previous work to permanently localise PSs to hydrogel surfaces, a cationic PS was electrostatically bound to the carboxylate groups of the MAA-containing particles [2–4]. Initial studies suggest successful uptake of the PS by the particles, with an increase in uptake with an increase in particle SA. Conclusion: A ball milling technique was successfully employed to produce an array of acrylate-based microparticles. Initial analysis of PS uptake by the p(HEMA-co-MAA) microparticles suggest the potential for these particles, along with the other candidate particles, to provide large SAs for PS incorporation and subsequent photo-catalytic generation of ROS. 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA); methacrylic acid (MAA); 2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA); methyl methacrylate (MMA)
References [1] [2] [3] [4]
M.R. Hamblin, T. Hasan, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. 3 (5) (2004) 436–450. C. Brady, et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 111 (3) (2007) 527–534. C. Parsons, et al., Biomaterials 30 (4) (2009) 597–602. C.P. McCoy, et al., Biomaterials 33 (32) (2012) 7952–7958.
5.80 ± 0.65 to S. aureus; 3.83 ± 0.26 and 3.79 ± 0.25 to S. epidermidis; and, 1.38 ± 0.61 and 1.59 ± 0.49 to P. aeruginosa. In multispecies biofilms of C. albicans and S. aureus, the reductions of dispersed cells, and cells from biofilms were, respectively: 0.61 ± 0.29 and 0.71 ± 0.34 to C. albicans; and 1.65 ± 0.64 and 1.90 ± 0.73 to S. aureus. In the association of C. albicans and S. epidermidis, the reductions of dispersed cells, and cells from biofilms were, respectively: 0.89 ± 0.38 and 1.11 ± 0.42 to C. albicans; and 2.01 ± 0.58 and 1.35 ± 0.60 to S. epidermidis. To multispecies biofilms of C. albicans and P. aeruginosa, the reductions of dispersed cells, and cells from biofilms were, respectively: 0.85 ± 0.59 and 0.99 ± 0.34 to C. albicans; and 0.54 ± 0.35 and 0.79 ± 0.40 to P. aeruginosa. In SEM there was a decrease of cells in biofilms submitted to PDT. Based on the current results, it can be concluded that PDT promoted antimicrobial effects in the monospecies and multispecies biofilms formed by C. albicans, S. aureus, S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa, and might be a useful approach for the control of these communities and disease caused by these microorganisms. Acknowledgements: FAPESP Scholarship 2013/07411-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2017.01.100
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2017.01.099
Poster PA-011
Poster PA-010
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy with halogenated tetrapyrrolic photosensitizers: From molecules to highly efficient photoinactivation of drug-resistant pathogens
Monospecies and multispecies biofilms of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are affected by antimicrobial photodynamic therapy C.A. Pereira-Correia, A.O.C. Jorge ∗ UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista, Institute of Science and Technology, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil Microorganisms form biofilms as a means of defense and of facilitating physiologic processes. The organization in biofilm protects the microorganisms, and increases their resistance to antimicrobial agents. Furthermore, biofilm formation is enhanced by coaggregation, which is the adhesion of two or more microorganism species. Thus, alternative and complementary treatments such as antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT) for control of biofilms, in particular those formed by the association of fungi and bacteria become necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of the PDT in monospecies and multispecies biofilms of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biofilms were formed by all microorganism isolated, and by association of C. albicans with each bacteria for 48 h. After, the effects of the photosensitizer erythrosine (ER) at 600 M for 5 min and green light-emitting diode (LED – 532 ± 10 nm) for 180 s, alone and conjugated were evaluated in the cells dispersed from biofilms and cells into biofilms. Biofilms controls, without treatment with ER and LED also were included. Next, the biofilms were dispersed and seeded onto specific culture media. After 48 h, the interaction between the microorganisms and the antimicrobial effect of PDT were verified by counting colony-forming units (CFU/mL log10), and the data were submitted to statistical analysis (p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of all biofilms treated with antimicrobial PDT and controls were also performed. The assays with green LED and ER solution did not exerted significant antimicrobial effects when used alone. Significant decreases in the viability of all microorganisms were observed for biofilms exposed to PDT mediated by LED and ER photosensitizer. The reductions (CFU log10) of dispersed cells, and cells from monospecies biofilms were, respectively: 1.13 ± 0.25 and 1.15 ± 0.63 to C. albicans; 4.53 ± 1.20 and
A45
B. Pucelik 1,∗ , R. Paczynski 2 , N.P.F. Goncalves 3 , M.M. Pereira 3 , L.G. Arnaut 3 , J.M. Dabrowski 1 1
Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland 2 Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland 3 QCQ Chemistry Department, University of Coimbra & Luzitin SA Ed. Bluepharma Coimbra, Portugal Photosensitizers based on tetrapyrrolic framework are currently highly attractive targets for the development of novel therapeutic agents not only for traditional photodynamic therapy of cancer (PDT), but also photodynamic inactivation o microorganisms (PDI), that is widely considered as alternative strategy to antibiotic chemotherapy of infective diseases [1,2]. The main focus of this work is to compare the physicochemical and photophysical properties of the series of structurally related halogenated porphyrins and its reduced derivatives (bacteriochlorins) in the context of their PDT/PDI applications. The mechanistic studies concerning reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by these compounds are also highlighted. All of tested photosensitizers showed favorable characteristics due to strong absorption in visible or near infrared region of spectrum and high singlet oxygen and/or oxygen-centered radicals quantum yields. The results indicate that chemical modification of the macrocycle by tunable substituents can provide an access to the biological properties needed for efficient treatment. The in vitro photodynamic activity of selected compounds was examined against a variety of cancer (e.g. HeLa, A549, CT26, 2H11) and normal (HaCaT) cells well as three different classes of microbial species included Gram-positive (S. aureus, E. faecalis, B. subtilis), Gram-negative (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. marcescens) bacteria and fungal yeast (C. albicans). The optimal formulation for photosensitizers (if desired) and their time-dependent cellular uptake were described. Investigated molecules revealed structure dependent phototoxicity against all cancer cells. However, the death of pathogens was strongly dependent on the PS concentration, delivered light dose/illumination time as well as