Preparation of Vaccines Using Photosensitizers and Light

Abstract

Methods are provided for treating a vaccine containing infectious particles which may be viral, bacterial, and/or cellular in nature. Preferred methods include the steps of adding an effective, non-toxic amount of an endogenous photosensitizer to the fluid and exposing the fluid to photoradiation sufficient to inactivate the infectious particles but not enough to damage the antigenic characteristics of the infectious particles.

1 . A method of making a vaccine for preventing the replication of live tumor cells in a mammal comprising the steps of: 
 removing a tumor from the mammal;    purifying at least some of the tumor cells from the tumor;    inactivating the tumor cells by exposing the tumor cells to an endogenous photosensitizer and light at a sufficient wavelength to prevent replication of the tumor cells but not substantially destroy the antigenic determinants of the tumor cells; and    suspending the inactivated tumor cells in a suspension solution.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the suspension solution is chosen from the group consisting of: saline and water.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the suspension solution is chosen from the group consisting of an antibiotic and a preservative.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the suspension solution further comprises an adjuvant.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the photosensitizer is 7,8-dimethyl-10-ribityl isoalloxazine.  
     
     
         6 . A method for producing immunity in a mammal comprising; 
 administering to the mammal a vaccine produced by the method of  claim 1;  and    allowing the immune system of the mammal to mount an immune response to the vaccine.    
     
     
         7 . A method of treating a vaccine to inactivate microorganisms which may be present therein comprising the steps of: 
 a. mixing an effective non-toxic amount of an endogenous photosensitizer or endogenously-based derivative photosensitizer with the vaccine;    b. exposing the vaccine to light of a sufficient wavelength to activate the photosensistizer; whereby at least some of the microorganisms are inactivated.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the endogenous photosensitizer is selected from the group consisting of: riboflavin, lumiflavin, lumichrome, napthquinones, napthels and napthalenes.