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Virus inactivation of blood products by phenothiazine dyes and light
H Mohr1, B Bachmann, A Klein-Struckmeier
1German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Institute Springe, Germany.
Abstract:
Methylene blue (MB) and its derivatives azure A, B, C and thionine are photoactive and, in principle, are suitable for photodynamic virus inactivation of blood and blood products, such as therapeutic plasma. Methylene blue was selected for plasma decontamination because it is being clinically used and because of its known toxicological and other properties. The standard procedure for photodynamic treatment of single units of fresh plasma involves illumination with visible light at an MB concentration of 1 microM. Polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that, in addition to model viruses, the bloodborne viruses hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immune deficiency virus-1 and probably also the nonenveloped parvovirus B19 are sensitive to MB/light treatment. The procedure is further improved when the fluorescent tubes routinely used for illumination are replaced by more intense light sources, e.g. light-emitting diodes or low-pressure sodium lamps. Surprisingly, the improved virus kill is accompanied by reduced damage to plasma proteins.
Insights
Methylene blue (MB) and light effectively inactivate viruses in therapeutic plasma. This photodynamic treatment shows promise for blood product safety, even reducing protein damage with improved light sources.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Virology
- Blood Product Safety
Background:
- Methylene blue (MB) and its derivatives are photoactive compounds.
- These compounds show potential for photodynamic virus inactivation in blood products like plasma.
- MB was chosen for plasma decontamination due to its clinical use and known properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Methylene blue (MB) and light for photodynamic virus inactivation in therapeutic plasma.
- To assess the impact of MB/light treatment on various bloodborne viruses.
- To investigate improvements in the MB/light treatment procedure for enhanced virus inactivation and reduced plasma protein damage.
Main Methods:
- Photodynamic treatment of plasma using Methylene blue (MB) at 1 microM concentration.
- Illumination with visible light, comparing standard fluorescent tubes with more intense sources like LEDs and sodium lamps.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to detect viral sensitivity to MB/light treatment.
Main Results:
- MB/light treatment demonstrated sensitivity in model viruses, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immune deficiency virus-1, and parvovirus B19.
- Replacing fluorescent tubes with more intense light sources (LEDs, sodium lamps) improved virus inactivation.
- Enhanced virus kill was unexpectedly accompanied by reduced damage to plasma proteins.
Conclusions:
- Methylene blue (MB) and light represent a viable method for photodynamic virus inactivation in therapeutic plasma.
- Optimizing light sources enhances the efficacy of MB/light treatment for blood product safety.
- The MB/light procedure offers a dual benefit of effective virus inactivation and preservation of plasma protein integrity.