Intracellular and extracellular decontamination of whole blood and blood

Abstract

This invention is directed to a method for inactivating pathogenic contaminants, such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and leukocytes, frequently found in whole blood or blood components, such as red blood cells or plasma, which comprises treating whole blood or blood components with an amphiphilic phenothiazin-5-ium dye and light. Preferred amphiphilic phenothiazin-5-ium dyes are those having the formula ##STR1## wherein each of R.sub.1, R.sub.1 ', R.sub.2, and R.sub.2 ' is independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a nitrile, an aralkyl group, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an amine group, and a hydrogen atom, each of R.sub.3, R.sub.3 ', R.sub.4, R.sub.4 ', R.sub.5 and R.sub.5 ' is independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a nitrile, an azide, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, a heteroaryl group, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amine group, and a hydrogen atom, or any two of R.sub.1, R.sub.1 ', R.sub.2, R.sub.2 ', R.sub.3, R.sub.3 ', R.sub.4, R.sub.4 ', R.sub.5 and R.sub.5 ' together form a aryl or heteroaryl ring; Y is selected from the group consisting of S, Se and Te; and X is a counter-ion.