The University of Texas System

Baylor Research Foundation

Bhaskar G Maiya

Jonathan L Sessler

Anthony M Harriman

Millard M Judy

J Lester Matthews

Joseph T Newman

Frank Sogandares-Bernal

The present invention includes a method to produce singlet oxygen from molecular oxygen generated by reaction with a sapphyrin compound excited at an absorbing wavelength to form a triplet species. Specifically, the sapphyrin compound is an alkylated sapphyrin, most preferably diprotonated 3,8,12,13,17,22-hexaethyl-2,7,18,23-tetramethylsapphyrin. Generation of the triplet species may be accomplished in an organic solvent, of which the most preferable solvents are chloroform, methanol or acetonitrile. Also encompassed within the present invention is a method to selectively produce singlet oxygen in an aqueous environment. A sapphyrin compound is incorporated within a membranous vesicle, the vesicle is illuminated with exciting light and the resultant excited triplet state sapphyrin compound reacts with molecular oxygen to produce singlet oxygen. Singlet oxygen was not generated external to the vesicle where the sapphyrin compound is present in an aqueous medium.

Photodynamic activity of sapphyrins

The present invention demonstrates a method of photodynamic inactivation of viruses having a membranous envelope, such as Herpes simplex type 1 and Human immunodeficiency type 1 viruses. The method uses substituted sapphyrin compounds to effect viral deactivation during radiation with light at or near the absorption wavelength of the sapphyrin compound. A highly reactive species selectively toxic to infectious agents is produced. One particular sapphyrin compound useful for the practice of the invention is 8,17-bis(carboxymethyl)-3,12,13,22-tetraethyl-2,7,18,23-tetramethylsapphyr in (Sapphyrin 2). The most preferred sapphyrin sapphyrin compound for the practice of the invention is 3,8,12,13,17,22-hexaethyl-2,7,18,23-tetramethylsapphyrin (Sapphyrin 1). The method is particularly suitable for inactivation of viruses in blood and blood products.

Photodynamic viral deactivation with sapphyrins

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Hyderabad Telangana, India

Bhaskar G Maiya