Sonodynamic
therapy (SDT) is a novel
tumor therapy method. We investigated membrane fluidity, activity of the
enzymes and membrane morphology in vitro post
hematoporphyrin-SDT treatment. Furthermore, the potential mechanisms behind the changes in membrane fluidity and enzymic activity were discussed.
Tumor cells were exposed to ultrasound at 1.75 MHz for up to 3 min in the presence and absence of
hematoporphyrin. Fluorescence polarization, contents of
Malonaldehyde, and levels of
free fatty acid were assessed. Activity of
enzymes was checked by the plumbic
nitrate detection method. For the morphologic study, a scanning electron microscope was used to observe the cellular surface. Ultrasonically induced cell damage increased in the presence of HPD (from 15% to 24%). Compared with ultrasound treatment alone, the fluidity decreased from 5.037 to 3.908,
malonaldehyde content and
free fatty acid level increased from 0.743 nmol/mL to 0.97 9 nmol/mL and from 237.180 micromol/L to 730.769 micromol/L, respectively, post ultrasound combined with HPD treatment. Inactivity of
adenylate cyclase and
guanylate cyclase and significant deformation of the cellular surface were also observed post SDT treatment. Our results suggested that alterations in membrane modality and
lipid composition played important roles in SDT-mediated inhibition of
tumor growth, even inducing
tumor cell death, which might be attributed to a sono-chemical activation mechanism.