INACTIVATION OF VIRUSES IN BLOOD WITH ALUMINUM PHTHALOCYANINE DERIVATIVES

The inactivation of viruses added to whole blood and a red cell concentrate with aluminum phthalocyanine and its sulfonated derivatives was studied. A cell-free form of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), used as a model, was completely inactivated (> 10(4) infectious units; TCID50) on treatment of whole blood with 10-mu-M (10-mu-mol/L) aluminum phthalocyanine chloride (AIPc) and a visible light dosage of 88 to 176 J per cm2. At 44 J per cm2, complete VSV inactivation was achieved on raising the concentration of AIPc to 25-mu-M (25-mu-mol/L). Results at least as good were achieved on similar treatment of a red cell concentrate. Also inactivated were a cell-associated form of VSV and both cell-free and cell-associated forms of human immunodeficiency virus; encephalomyocarditis virus, used as a model for non-lipid-enveloped viruses, was not inactivated by this procedure. This inactivation of cell-free VSV suggests that a similar degree of inactivation could be achieved with a lower concentration of the sulfonated forms of aluminum phthalocyanine. Throughout the above studies, red cell integrity was well maintained, as judged by the absence of hemoglobin release (less-than-or-equal-to 2%) during the course of treatment or on subsequent storage. Red cell osmotic fragility was decreased on treatment of whole blood with AIPc. This study indicates that AIPc may be a promising method for the inactivation of viruses in cellular blood products.