In vitro sonodynamic cytotoxicity in regulated cavitation conditions

Sonodynamic toxicity has always been linked to the cavitation phenomenon. In this work, sonodynamic effect with Photofrin® was evaluated with a new ultrasound device: a regulated cavitation generator. In this way, acoustic intensity was substituted with cavitation level as ultrasound parameter. Photofrin® potentiated significantly the cavitation cytotoxicity even for low setpoints where no inertial cavitation appeared. Therefore sonodynamic mechanism was principally mechanical, facilitated by the Photofrin® insertion in cellular cytoplasmic membranes. This assertion was also supported by the fact that sonodynamic cytotoxicity was independent from the Photofrin® presence or absence in the extracellular medium. Reproducible sonodynamic efficiency was perfectly obtained with this new regulated cavitation generator.