Antibacterial Properties of Synthetic Cationic Bacteriochlorin Derivatives as Photosensitizers

Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (APDT) is a promising method of treatment of local infections, based on photochemical reaction of photosensitizer (PS) under irradiation with visible or near infra-red light of appropriate wavelength. A molecule of PS is activated by light energy and as a result singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species, which are toxic for microbes, are generated. Antibacterial action of new PS (synthetic polycationic bacteriochlorin derivatives with spectral maximum of absorbance at 760 nm) with improved features was investigated in vitro in this work. Tetra- and octacationic bacteriochlorins with lower molecular mass, as compared with ones previously proposed, turned out to be highly effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in plankton and biofilm state: reduction of viable bacteria in biofilms reached 5log10. The dependence of the effect on PS concentration, the time of incubation with PS and light dose was ascertained. Light microscopy of biofilms after photodynamic treatment and Live/Dead staining confirmed the death of bacteria or damage of their membranes after exposure to PS and irradiation.