Photothermal sensitisation as a novel therapeutic approach for tumours: studies at the cellular and animal level.

Irradiation of B78H1 murine amelanotic melanoma cells with 850 nm light emitted from a Ti:sapphire laser, operated in a pulsed mode at high fluence rates and in the presence of Ni(II)-octabutoxy-naphthalocyanine (NiNc), promoted a photothermally sensitised process leading to fast and irreversible cell death. This resulted in the ejection of a consistent mass of cytoplasmic material from the irradiated cells that was detected by scanning electron microscopy. The extensive chemical and mechanical damage was probably caused by the photoinduced generation of an acoustic shock wave.