Properties of bacteriochlorophyll c and bacteriopheophytin c in resting and stimulated lymphocytes

In order to establish the possibility of the bacteriochlorophyll c and bacteriopheophytin c applications in photodynamic therapy and diagnosis of cancer, the absorption, fluorescence emission and excitation spectra of these pigments introduced into resting and stimulated (having properties corresponding to the first stage of cancerogenesis) lymphocytes have been measured. The spectral and photochemical properties observed in stained and unstained lymphocytes are discussed. It was shown that bacteriopheophytin c is photochemically stable in the cells and it is to a higher degree incorporated into stimulated than resting cells; therefore it is more suitable for medical applications than bacteriochlorophyll c.