Photodynamic processes of cholesteryl oleate accumulated on the arterial wall using IR free electron lasers

摘要

The selective removal of cholesterol esters accumulated in the intra-cellular or extra-cellular spaces has clinical significance. In the present work we investigate the removal of cholesterol esters by using a free electron laser (FEL) in an arteriosclerotic region. Thin films of cholesteryl oleate and albumin, and the cross section of a rabbit artery were placed on an inverted microscope stage and the changes caused by the FEL irradiation of 5.75 micrometer and 6.1 micrometer with 1.5 - 3 mW in average were monitored continuously by a CCD camera in real time. FEL irradiation at a wavelength of 5.75 micrometer, which is a stretching vibrational mode of the ester, was able to ablate cholesterol esters without affecting albumin and that it can also remove cholesterol esters from rabbits' arteriosclerotic arterial walls.