Abstract
5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) being an amazing second generation photosensitizer was studied as photodamaging drug on hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. The mentioned photosensitizer is converted to PpIX in HepG2 cells in vitro, inducing haem in the cell causing generation of singlet oxygen leading to cell apoptosis. Cell uptake of 5-ALA was evaluated with different concentrations (ranging from 0–800 μg/ml) for 0–49 h incubation period. ALA administered in HepG2 cells is converted into Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) which has a short half life and constitute a good hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD). Cytotoxicity of ALA in dark and cellular viability without ALA in the presence of light was studied, showing minimal toxic effects in dark with no photodamaging effect on mentioned cells in absence of ALA were observed. The optimal uptake of photosensitizer (5-ALA) in HepG2 cells was investigated by means of spectrophotometeric measurements, cellular viability was determined by means of neutral red assay (NRA). It was observed that with different concentrations (0–800 μg/ml) of ALA or light doses (0–160 J/cm
2
), there were no significant effect on cellular viability when studied independently. The novel of photocytotoxic study indicates that light dose of 120 J/cm
2
produces convincing Photodynamic therapy (PDT) results for HepG2 cells incubated with 262 μg/ml of 5-ALA deducting that HepG2 cell line is sensitive to ALA mediated PDT. Finally morphological changes in HePG2 cells were determined before and after ALA-mediated PDT by confocal microscopy.