Exposure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to sunlight results in rapid structural photomodification generally via oxidation reactions. These PAH modification products are in many cases more toxic than their parent compounds. In this study, anthracene (ANT), a rapidly photooxidized PAH, was irradiated with simulated solar radiation (SSR, 100 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) in aqueous solution to...

Intralipid is a lipid emulsion used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for its light scattering and tissue-simulating properties. The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not Intralipid undergoes photooxidation, and we have carried out an Intralipid peroxide trapping study using a series of phosphines [2'-dicyclohexylphosphino-2,6-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl-3-sulfonate, 3-(diphenylphosphino...

Two ruthenium aqua complexes were shown to be effective catalysts in chemical and photochemical oxidation of hydrocarbons. A remarkable activity (up to 90% yield and 100% selectivity) was performed in conversion of sulfide to sulfoxide by homogeneous photooxidation.

The autofluorescence of the retina that originates primarily from lipofuscin fluorophores in retinal pigment epithelial cells, is observed to undergo photobleaching during the acquisition of fundus autofluorescence images. Bisretinoid fluorophores isolated from retinal pigment epithelial cells have the spectral characteristics consistent with their being the source of fundus autofluorescence. C...

Recent studies have implicated local inflammation and activation of complement amongst the processes involved in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Several lines of investigation also indicate that bis-retinoid pigments, such as A2E, that accumulate as lipofuscin in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, contribute to the disease process. In an investigation of a poten...

Fluorescent bisretinoids, such as A2E and all-trans-retinal dimer, form as a by-product of vitamin A cycling in retina and accumulate in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells as lipofuscin pigments. These pigments are implicated in pathological mechanisms involved in several vision-threatening diseases including age-related macular degeneration. Efforts to understand damaging events initiated ...