Sonodynamic effect in A375 melanoma cells with Chlorin e6 induced by 20 kHz ultrasound

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that low-frequency 20 kHz ultrasound enhances the sonodynamic effect of chlorin e6 in melanoma cells, potentially offering a novel noninvasive therapeutic approach.

Contribution

First to show that 20 kHz ultrasound amplifies chlorin e6's sonodynamic effect in melanoma cells with a proposed internal activation mechanism.

Findings

Ultrasound enhances chlorin e6's cytotoxicity in melanoma cells.

Chlorin e6 remains monomeric after ultrasound exposure.

A two-step model involving sonoluminescence explains the activation process.

Abstract

In this research, combined effect of chlorin e6 and noninvasive 20 kHz, low-powered ultrasound on melanoma cells is proposed for the first time. The proposed combination incorporates the application of safe low-frequency ultrasound that is used for transdermal drug delivery. We demonstrate that impact of the 20 kHz ultrasound on chlorin e6 leads to strong sonodynamic effect in melanoma cells. We also show that chlorin e6 keeps its monomeric form in the cells and does not aggregate after exposure to ultrasound. We propose a two-step model where sonoluminescence serves as an internal light source for the chlorin e6 photoactivation.