Investigation into the pharmacokinetic and dynamic mechanisms of fusarochromanone (FC101), a novel mycotoxin produced by Fusarium equiseti

Photodynamic therapy is an emerging technology that uses a combination of small molecules and light in the visible, UV-A, and near-infrared for the treatment of cancer. This chapter explores the newly discovered photodynamic ability of FC101 to destroy a highly metastatic and PDT-resistant murine B16 melanoma cancer cell line. Through the use of confocal microscopy it was found that FC101 produces this photodynamic response at concentrations ≥200 nM. B16 melanoma cells, when treated with FC101 and exposed to 5 minutes of constant 365 nm light, undergo plasma membrane blebbing, which subsequently leads to loss cellular tonicity and cell death. The photosensitization capacity of FC101 was quantified through the use of photo-oxidative dimerization of ortho-phenylenediamine to 2,3-diaminophenazine. Photosensitization of FC101 appears to be mediated by first order kinetics.