Sonodynamically induced effect of rose bengal on isolated sarcoma 180 cells

Abstract

Purpose: The ultrasonically induced effect of rose bengal (RB) on isolated tumor cells was investigated. Methods: Sarcoma 180 cells were suspended in air-saturated phosphate-buffered saline and exposed to ultrasound in standing wave mode for up to 60 s in the presence and absence of RB. Cell viability was determined by the ability to exclude trypan blue. Results: The rate of inducing cell damage by ultrasound was enhanced two to three times with 160 μM RB, while no cell damage was observed with RB alone. This enhancement was significantly inhibited by histidine. Conclusions: Ultrasonically induced in vitro cell damage was significantly enhanced by RB. A sonochemical mechanism may be suggested since the enhancement was significantly inhibited by an active oxygen scavenger.