Pavel Matejka

Biodistribution Assessment of a Lutetium(III) Texaphyrin Analogue in Tumor-bearing Mice Using NIR Fourier-transform Raman Spectroscopy¶

The use of near‐infrared (NIR)‐excited Fourier‐transform (FT) Raman spectroscopy as a technique for evaluating the extent of photosensitizer localization in tumor (human pancreatic adenocarcinomas)‐bearing mice has been tested using lutetium(III) texaphyrin analogue Ln‐T2B2Tex. The complex was injected subcutaneously in the form of three injections given during the course of 3 days. The kinetics of biodistribution were then followed over a time scale of 1–6 days. The NIR‐FT‐Raman spectra of tissue samples obtained from the xenographic tumor, muscle, heart, brain, liver, spleen, kidney and blood were recorded and used to identify the presence of Lu‐T2B2Tex in these tissues. Five Raman sensitizer markers were used to estimate the relative content of Lu‐T2B2Tex in tumor at various postinjection times. UV‐Visible (Vis) absorption spectroscopic detection of this sensitizer in tissue extracts was applied as a conventional method. Both spectroscopic methods were in good agreement with each other and confirm that Lu‐T2B2Tex localizes well in tumor tissue. Maximal drug content was observed 3 days after the final injection. This time delay seems to be optimal for tumor irradiation in photodynamic therapy.

FT Raman spectroscopy of Norway spruce needles

12 Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] needles represent a very useful bioindicator of the air pollution. They serve not only as natural samplers of the pollutants but micromorphology of the epistomatal area can be directly correlated with an environmental stress. The needles of trees growing in polluted areas exhibit different types of injury to the epicuticular wax layer. It is evident that these changes of the morphology of the wax layers are connected also with the changes of their chemical composition and so a potential of the FT Raman spectroscopy was tested to serve as a screening method of these changes. In this work variability of the spectra with the age and with the position in the tree, in the locality, and also in the different localities of the Czech Republic was studied and evaluated in comparison with results of electron scanning microscopy.