Abstract

The photostability and phototoxic potential of two new 4-alkyl-1,4-dihydropyridines (PCA-4230 and PCA-4248) were investigated. When these 4-alkyl-1,4-dihydropyridines were irradiated with a multilamp photoreactor (band centred at 350 nm), both exhibited a slow photodegradation showing first-order kinetics. The photodegradation rate constants were 0.37 h-1 for PCA-4248 and 0.39 h-1 for PCA-4230 in oxygenated conditions. The photodecomposition was slower for both drugs in the absence of oxygen. In order to evaluate the phototoxicity induced by these drugs, red blood cells and Hep-2 (human laringo carcinoma cell line) were irradiated using a minisolarium, which emits UVA radiation (350-390 nm). The results showed that PCA-4248 and PCA-4230 did not exhibit a phototoxic effect in the two models tested.