The molecule BV-1 is designed to target the bacterial membrane and produce reactive oxygen species at this location, leading E. coli photo-inhibition a relatively low minimum inhibition concentration.

Photodynamic alteration of lobster giant axons drastically changed the magnitude and kinetics of sodium currents seen under voltage clamp using the sucrose gap technique. Illumination of axons following treatment with acridine orange or eosin Y decreased the maximum sodium conductance to a zero asymptote as an exponential function of illumination time. Normal sodium inactivation was slowed, wit...