Biophotons are photons of light produced by biological systems in the UV and low visible light range. Each cell emits around 100,000 photons per second due to free radical reactions of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Free radicals can cause cell malfunction and damage, which is correlated with increased biophoton emission. Applications of biophotonics in pharmaceutical sciences include using compounds to reduce biophoton emission from stressed cells to determine new drug candidates, imaging mitochondrial potential during apoptosis, and using photodynamic therapy and targeted nanoparticles for cell imaging, repair, or death. Biophotonics is a highly sensitive technique that depends on free radical generation characteristic of diseases and can be used for drug discovery, laser procedures, and tissue

1. BIOPHOTONICS & IT’S
APPLICATION IN
PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
Presented by ISHA GHOSH
Roll no: 18901914042
3rd year, 6th semester
Guided by DR. SOUVIK BASAK
Dr. B.C.Roy College of Pharmacy & A.H.S.

2. BIOPHOTONS – a new tool in
Pharmaceutical Sciences

3. To explain this in atomic level
we can see this picture.
Biophotons are photons of light
in the UV or low visible light
range that are produced by a
biological system.
•Each cell emits 100,000
photons/sec.

4. The emergence of
biophotons is
DUE TO the free
radical reactions
of ROS and RNS
Free radicals

5. FREE RADICALS cause CELL MALFUNCTION/CELL
DAMAGE which is correlated with BIOPHOTON
EMISSION.

6. Applications in
Pharmaceutical Sciences

7. Cell
Stress
due to
diseased
condition
Over excited cell
(increased free
radical)
Cell damage
Low energy
state.
Biophoton
emission.
Compound/s under
trial reduces (IF?)
biophoton emission
Probability of new drug molecule
High energy
state.
ROS*ROS
X
(Kantevari S. J
Bioequiv Bioavail
2010; 01 (01))

8. (Henderson BW and Dougherty TJ. Photochem Photobiol 1992;
55: 145-157)
 Photofrin
(porfimer sodium),
a PDT drug
approved by the
U.S. Food and
Drug
Administration as
well as by other
regulatory
agencies
throughout the
world for the
treatment of a
variety of
malignant tumors.

9. (Salvioli et al . Cytometry 2000; 40: 189-197)
Selectively stained
mitochondria of living cell
with fluorescent probe.
Measured changes of
mitochondrial
potential by imaging
as indication of
apoptosis.
 increase in
fluorescence
means starting of
apoptosis.
USES OF BIOIMAGING
 MRI
 X ray imaging
 CT scan
 Radiotherapy

10. .
 LASER ANGIOPLASTY
A cardiac procedure that dilates and unblocks atherosclerotic plaque
from the walls of arterial vessels and often involves the placement of a
mesh stent to prevent the vessels from closing again.
Fiber optics can be used here to transmit laser radiation. Laser vaporizes the
Atherosclerotic plaque
 LASER BALLOON ANGIOPLASTY
Laser beam heats the vessel wall during balloon angioplasty to
improve the vessel remodeling induced by balloon dilation.
(Prasad P.N. ‘INTRODUCTION TO BIOPHOTONICS’ ; 13: 464 – 467)

11. Virus (plant virus)
Native gene removed
Toxic cargo is loaded
Photosensitizer is
loaded.
Introduced into
body (VNP).
Target cells
are killed.
STEPS.
Why Viruses are used ?
The interiors of virus particles can
protect sensitive compounds.
 Exterior can be altered to attach/
display molecules (photosensitizer
probes)
 Highly biocompatible
(Wen et al. Bioconjugate Chem 2015; 26:
51-62)

12.  Highly sensitive technology
 Depends on free radical generation that is
characteristic of all the diseases
 Photodynamic therapy used for tumour
destruction
 Bioimaging used for cell-cell, cell-drug pathway
tracking
 Targeted nanoparticle used for cell imaging or cell
repair or cell death.
 Used for drug discovery by high throughput
screening
 Used in laser based tissue engineering.

13. THANK YOU.THANK YOUTHANK YOU