Abstract: Photoactive materials, such as photosensitizers, are used as fluorescent markers for in vivo detection of the distribution of the injected filler material during cosmetic treatments. In one preferred embodiment, liposomal formulated temoporfin is used, as the photoactive component, in very small concentrations along with fillers for cosmetic and wound healing applications. Fillers, which can be used in the invention, include collagen, hyaluronic acids and other synthetic or natural products which are generally used in wound healing, scar reduction and other such medical applications. In a preferred embodiment, the formulated photosensitizer is coupled to the filler so that tracking is possible over longer periods of time A liposomal formulated photosensitizer is injected with the fillers into the treatment area, and is irradiated with laser light shortly after injection. The emitted fluorescence is measured by a special non-invasive device.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical liposomal formulations are described for photodynamic therapy comprising a, hydrophobic porphyrin photosensitizer, a monosaccharide and one or more synthetic phospholipids, which are stable in storage especially through freeze-drying process. The liposomal formulations provide therapeutically effective amounts of the photosensitizer for intravenous administration. In particular derivatives of chlorins and bacteriochlorins, such as temoporfin, are, hydrophobic photosensitizers whose efficacy and safety are enhanced by such liposomal formulations. The formulation can be efficiently freeze-dried preserving the size of the liposomal vehicles, and the content of a therapeutically effective amount of the photosensitizer, due to the selection of phospholipids and monosaccharides. The invention also relates to liposome compositions formed upon reconstitution with an aqueous vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to the novel antibiotic HKI10311129 which has a molecular weight of 1113 and the summation formula C56H75NO22. The invention also relates to a method for producing said antibiotic using the microorganism Streptomyces spec. DSM 13059, and to the use thereof as an antibacterial substance which is especially effective against infections with Gram positive bacteria, especially antibiotic-resistant germs.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical liposomal formulations for photodynamic therapy are presented, which are stable in storage as liquid formulations, comprise a hydrophobic photosensitizer and one or more synthetic phospholipids. The liposomal formulations provide therapeutically effective amounts of the photosensitizer for intravenous administration. The formed liposomes contain the hydrophobic photosensitizer within the lipid bilayer membrane. In the present formulation the size of the liposomal vehicles and their content of a therapeutically effective amount of the photosensitizing agent remain unchanged over storage times of a year or more, thus making the liquid formulations commercially viable. Being stable in the liquid state also makes them easy to store, and easier to use for doctors and patients. They can be prepared in a ‘factory setting’ delivered to practitioners in a liquid state and be available for use in PDT related treatments as called for by the practitioners' patient needs.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical pegylated liposomal formulations for photodynamic therapy are presented. The pegylated liposomal formulation provides therapeutically effective amounts of the photosensitizer for intravenous administration. At least one of the phospholipids in the liposomes has been linked with poly ethylene glycol (PEG) as an integral part of the phospholipids. The formed pegylated liposomes contain the hydrophobic photosensitizer within the lipid bilayer membrane. Pegylation of liposomes carrying the hydrophobic photosensitizer helps to maintain the drug level within the therapeutic window for longer time periods and provides the drug a longer circulating half life in vivo. Further the pegylated formulation of hydrophobic photosensitizers shows improved pharmacokinetics over standard non-liposomal formulations thus enhancing the efficacy of PDT with the pegylated liposomal formulations.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical liposomal formulations are described for photodynamic therapy comprising a, hydrophobic porphyrin photosensitizer, a monosaccharide and one or more synthetic phospholipids, which are stable in storage especially through freeze-drying process. The liposomal formulations provide therapeutically effective amounts of the photosensitizer for intravenous administration. In particular derivatives of chlorins and bacteriochlorins, such as temoporfin, are, hydrophobic photosensitizers whose efficacy and safety are enhanced by such liposomal formulations. The formulation can be efficiently freeze-dried preserving the size of the liposomal vehicles, and the content of a therapeutically effective amount of the photosensitizer, due to the selection of phospholipids and monosaccharides. The invention also relates to liposome compositions formed upon reconstitution with an aqueous vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for increasing the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (“PDT”) and for reducing the duration of skin phototoxicity associated with PDT treatment. The disclosed methods generally include the administration of a lipid composition before, during, or after the administration of photosensitizers used in the PDT treatment protocol. The lipids are preferably phospholipids. It was discovered that the disclosed methods resulted in a more rapid clearance of photosensitizers from the skin and other tissue of patients, which results in a shorter period of skin phototoxicity after PDT treatment. The present invention also provides a composition which is preferably comprised of non-polar photosensitizers and phospholipids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a protein with the function of a plant Mg chelatase subunit CHLD or an active fragment thereof; a protein which has the function of a plant Mg chelatase subunit CHLD or an active fragment thereof, preferably a recombinant protein; a method of determining the interaction of plant Mg chelatase subunits, in which a host cell is transformed with a DNA sequence as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 3 and at least with one DNA sequence encoding a further subunit of Mg chelatase in such a manner that the interaction of the Mg chelatase gene products leads to a directly or indirectly, qualitatively or quantitatively measurable signal, preferably by activating a marker gene, and transgenic plants, transgenic plant cells, transgenic plant organs, transgenic plant seeds, transgenic propagation material comprising an abovementioned nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical liposomal formulation for photodynamic therapy comprising a non-polar porphyrin photosensitizer and one or more phospholipids, which are stable in storage without requiring freeze-drying is described. The liposomal formulation provides therapeutically effective amounts of the photosensitizer for intravenous administration. The phospholipids may be modified by pegylation, i.e. they contain poly ethylene glycol as an integral part of the phospholipids. The formed liposomes contain the non-polar photosensitizer within the membrane and are useful for the combined targeting of a non-polar photosensitizer and a second polar substance. When a formulation includes the presence of monosaccharides or polyalcohols, it can be efficiently freeze-dried preserving the size of the liposomal vehicles and the content of a therapeutically effective amount of the photosensitizing agent. The invention also relates to the liposome composition formed upon reconstitution with an aqueous vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a protein with the function of a plant Mg chelatase subunit CHLD or an active fragment thereof; a protein which has the function of a plant Mg chelatase subunit CHLD or an active fragment thereof, preferably a recombinant protein; a method of determining the interaction of plant Mg chelatase subunits, in which a host cell is transformed with a DNA sequence as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 3 and at least with one DNA sequence encoding a further subunit of Mg chelatase in such a manner that the interaction of the Mg chelatase gene products leads to a directly or indirectly, qualitatively or quantitatively measurable signal, preferably by activating a marker gene, and transgenic plants, transgenic plant cells, transgenic plant organs, transgenic plant seeds, transgenic propagation material comprising an abovementioned nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: Siderophore-photosensitizer conjugates, their synthesis and use in photodynamic antimicrobial therapy (PACT) is disclosed. The advantage of this method is improvement of photodynamic antimicrobial therapy against, for example, pathogenic micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi. Naturally occurring and synthetically available siderophore structures are conjugated chemically with photoactive compounds such as Chlorin e6 to improve their penetration into bacterial cells and to increase antibacterial efficacy of photosensitizers via microbial proteins that recognize and transport iron-loaded siderophores. In this way, photosensitizers can be transported inside bacteria that otherwise could not cross the cell wall and membranes. Photodynamic activation of photosensitizers inside the cells of pathogenic microbes enables a more effective inhibition of cellular functions than application at the outer side of the cells.