Sonodynamically induced effect of rose bengal on isolated sarcoma 180 cells

Purpose: The ultrasonically induced effect of rose bengal (RB) on isolated tumor cells was investigated. Methods: Sarcoma 180 cells were suspended in air-saturated phosphate-buffered saline and exposed to ultrasound in standing wave mode for up to 60 s in the presence and absence of RE. Cell viability was determined by the ability to exclude trypan blue. Results: The rate of inducing cell damage by ultrasound was enhanced two to three times with 160 mu M RB, while no cell damage was observed with RE alone. This enhancement was significantly inhibited by histidine. Conclusions: Ultrasonically induced in vitro cell damage was significantly enhanced by RE. A sonochemical mechanism may be suggested since the enhancement was significantly inhibited by an active oxygen scavenger.