TITLE:
Photodynamic Therapy with Phthalomethyl D: Perspectives against SARS-CoV-2
AUTHORS:
Marcus Vinicius de Mello Pinto, Carlos Henrique Machado Bittencourt Silva, Aline Ronis Sampaio, Miriam Viviane Baron, Alexandre Gomes Sancho, Esteban Fortuny, Lizia Fabiola Almeida Silva, Felice Picariello, Rogério Mendonça de Carvalho
KEYWORDS:
Photodynamic Therapy, Coronavirus, Phthalocyanines, Methylene Blue, Vitamin D, Phthalomethyl D
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.8 No.10,
October
21,
2020
ABSTRACT: Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is the generation of cytotoxic agents through the dynamic interaction between a photosensitizer excited by light at a specific wavelength. When associated with phthalocyanines, they are efficient in incorporating target cells and exhibiting high rates of triplet generation. This study aimed to characterize PDT associated with the phototherapeutic agent Phthalomethyl D, developed by the authors, in the process of repair, healing and immune improvement for possible application against SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Sixty-nine mice were used, divided into 2 groups: GI, treated with ILIB laser, without a phototherapeutic agent, and subjected to surgery for viral induction; GII, same as GI plus association of Phthalomethyl D. They were divided into subgroups and reevaluated at 7, 14, and 21 days, and then divided into 3 subgroups of 6 animals each, subjected to treatment at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 5 and 7 days. Results: Both groups had a high rate of partial incision closure and acute inflammatory control. Microscopically, there was a greater amount of amorphous fundamental substance, fibrocytes, fibroblasts, and giant cells and reduction in the number of keratinocytes, in the amount of keratin, and epidermal thickness in GII than in GI. Conclusions: PDT with Phthalomethyl D stimulates the processes of healing/repair and immunomodulation during viral infection, initially favoring the inflammatory response and, after 21 days, contributing to the anti-inflammatory response profile, making this approach possible in the treatment of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2.