Photosensitization by Norfloxacin is a Function of pH

Abstract— Norfloxacin is a fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotic that has been reported to cause cutaneous photosensitivity in animals and occasionally in humans. We have studied the fluorescence and singlet oxygen (¹O₂)-generating properties of norfloxacin. Upon UV excitation the drug fluoresces in water, and the relative intensities of two major fluorescence bands at ca 420 and 450 nm are affected by pH. The overall quantum yield of fluorescence (φ_F) is also strongly pH dependent: φ_F is low in 0.2 N HC1 solution (0.2), increasing steeply to 0.12 at pH 4, then gradually decreasing to 0.01 at pH 10. The changes in φ_F are accompanied by changes in fluorescence lifetime from 0.6 ns at pH 1 to 1.8 ns at pH 4. Norfloxacin exhibits phosphorescence in low temperature glasses. The formation of a triplet state at room temperature is also suggested by ¹O₂ phosphorescence in aerobic D₂O. This phosphorescence is “self-quenched” by norfloxacin itself with an efficiency that is pH dependent: k_q is 7.9 ×10⁶M^?1s^?1 at pD 4, decreases to 1.9 × 10⁶M^?1 s^?1 at pD 7.5 but then increases about 20-fold in alkaline D₂O solutions. This quenching causes the observed ¹O₂ production by norfloxacin (0.1 mM) to show a maximum at around pH 8–9. However, after correction for self-quenching, the quantum yield of ¹O₂ production (φ_so), measured by using perinaphthenone as a standard, yielded the following values: φ_so is about 0.07 in 0.2 N DCl solution, 0.08 at pH 7.5 and then increases smoothly to ～ 0.2 in 0.1 M NaOD solution. The relatively high, unquenched ¹O₂ production at physiological pH 7.4 (φ_so～ 0.08) suggests that ¹O₂ reactions may play an important role in the cutaneous phototoxicity of norfloxacin and other FQ antibiotics.     

UV light induced photodegradation of liposome encapsulated fluoroquinolones: An MS study

Fluoroquinolone antibacterial agents are among the drugs most commonly causing phototoxic side effects. The phototoxicity may be originated in formation of reactive oxygen species upon ultraviolet exposure. Researches aiming the liposomal encapsulation of fluoroquinolones, expecting an increase in their therapeutic index, enhance the importance of studies on physicochemical properties and photostability of liposomal preparations. We studied the photodegradation of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and lomefloxacin by mass spectrometry upon various doses of UV irradiation. Lomefloxacin, the most phototoxic fluoroquinolone among them, was encapsulated into small unilamellar and multilamellar liposomes. Impact of vesicle structure and lipid composition – the presence of unsaturated fatty acid containing dioleoyl-phosphatidylcholine in dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine liposomes – on the lomefloxacin photolysis was investigated; the structure of the main photoproducts was identified by mass spectrometry. It was found that the presence and type of lipids influence the ways of photodegradation process.     

Thermal-lensing and phosphorescence studies of the quantum yield and lifetime of singlet molecular oxygen (1 delta g) sensitized by hematoporphyrin and related porphyrins in deuterated and non-deuterated ethanols

Time-resolved thermal-lensing was used to measure the absolute quantum yield (φ_Δ) of singlet molecular oxygen, O₂(¹Δ_g), produced by hematoporphyrin photosensitization in ethanol. Deuteration of the solvent did not affect the value of φ_Δ. The value of φΔ= 0.53 was then used as reference to evaluate φΔ in O₂ (¹Δ_g) phosphorescence experiments with the related porphyrins, monohydroxyethylvinyl deuteroporphyrin and dihematoporphyrin ether. The φ_Δ values, in conjunction with the respective quantum yields of intersystem crossing (measured using a nanosecond laser flash photolysis technique) served to evaluate efficiencies, S_Δ, of O₂ (¹Δ_g) production from the porphyrin triplet states. The lifetime T_Δ in monodeuterated ethanol was measured as 29 ± 3 μs and 30 ± 1 (xs by time-resolved thermal lensing and phosphorescence detection, respectively. T_Δ in ethanol and fully deuterated ethanol were in good agreement with values reported in the literature.     

Influence of Solvent Polarity and Proticity on the Photochemical Properties of Norfloxacin

Abstract— The fluoroquinolone antibacterial norfloxacin (NF) is a moderate photosensitizer of singlet molecular oxygen (¹O₂). We have studied photosensitization by NF as a function of medium polarity and proticity in solvent mixtures. We have used 1,4-dioxane and propylene carbonate mixtures to keep proticity constant while modulating polarity, and water/D₂O and ethylene carbonate mixtures to alter proticity without large changes in polarity. The absorption spectrum of NF was little affected by solvent changes, as compared to the fluorescence spectrum that exhibited as much as a 50 nm blue-shift, e.g. 1,4-dioxane versus D₂O. The quantum yield of NF fluorescence saturated at an almost 10 times higher value (?0.14) when proticity was increased by added water, up to 0.2 mol fraction, to ethylene carbonate. Less pronounced, the increasing polarity in 1,4-dioxane/propylene carbonate mixtures affected the fluorescence yield much less. Norfloxacin produces ¹O₂ and is able to quench ¹O₂. The rate constant for ¹O₂ quenching is 4.5 × 107 M^?1 s^?1 in propylene carbonate but decreases ca four times in D₂O. The quantum yield of ¹O₂ photogeneration was also up to five times higher in solvents that were both protic and polar than vice versa. Our data show that NF is more photochemically active in an environment that is both protic and polar. This suggests the involvement of polar excited state(s) and possible proton/hydrogen transfer during photoexcitation. Similar processes may initiate the phototoxic response reported in some patients treated with the fluoroquinolone drugs. The phototoxicity of NF and other fluoroquinolone antibiotics may strongly depend on their localization in hydrophilic or hydrophobic cell/tissue regions.     

DAMAGE TO URACIL- AND ADENINE-CONTAINING BASES, NUCLEOSIDES, NUCLEOTIDES AND POLYNUCLEOTIDES: QUANTUM YIELDS ON IRRADIATION AT 193 AND 254 NM

Abstract Photoreactions, such as base release and decomposition of the base moiety, induced by either 20 ns laser pulses at 193 nm or continuous 254 nm irradiation, were studied for a series of uracil and adenine derivatives in neutral aqueous solution. The quantum yield of chromophore loss (φ) depends significantly on the nature of the nucleic acid constituent and the saturating gas (Ar, N₂O or O₂). In the case of polynucleotides the destruction of nucleotides was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography after hydrolysis; the quantum yields (φ) are comparable to those of chromophore loss or larger. The φ_cl and aφ_dn of 0.04–0.1 for poly(U) and poly(dU), obtained for both wavelengths of irradiation, are due to processes originating from the lowest excited singlet state, i.e. formation of photohydrates and photodimers, and a second part from photoionization using λ_irr= 193 nm. Irradiation at 193 nm effectively splits pyrimidine dimers and thus reverts them into monomers. The quantum yield for release of undamaged bases (φ_br) from nucleosides, nucleotides and polynucleotides upon irradiation at 254 nm is typically φ_br= (0.1–1) × 10^?4 Breakage of the N-glycosidic bond is significantly more efficient for λ_irr=193 nm, e.g. φ_br= 1.1 × 10^?3, 0.8 × 10^?3, 4.3 × 10^?3 and 0.5 × 10^?3 for poly(A), poly(dA), poly(U) and poly(dU) in Ar-saturated solution, respectively. Enhanced φ values for λ_irr= 193 nm, essentially for adenine and its derivatives, are caused by photo-processes that are initiated by photoionization.     

PHOTOPHYSICAL AND PHOTOSENSITIZING PROPERTIES OF BENZOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE MONOACID RING A (BPD-MA)*

The photophysical properties of benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A (BPD-MA), a second-generation photosensitizer currently in phase II clinical trials, were investigated in homogeneous solution. Absorption, fluorescence, triplet-state, singlet oxygen (O₂(¹Δ_g)) sensitization studies and photobleaching experiments are reported. The ground state of this chlorin-type molecule shows a strong absorbance in the red (λ≈ 688 nm, ?≈ 33 000 M^?1 cm^?1 in organic solvents). For the singlet excited state the following data were determined in methanol: energy level, E_s= 42.1 kcal mol^?1, lifetime, Φ_f= 5.2 ns and fluorescence quantum yield, Φ_f= 0.05 in air-saturated solution. The triplet state of BPD-MA has a lifetime, τ_f >. 25 ns, an energy level, E_T= 26.9 kcal mol^?1 and the molar absorption coefficient is ?_T= 26 650 M^?1 cm^?1 at 720 nm. A dramatic effect of oxygen on the fluorescence (φ_f) and intersystem crossing (φ_T) quantum yields has been observed. The BPD-MA presents rather high triplet (φ_T= 0.68 under N₂-saturated conditions) and singlet oxygen (φ_Δ= 0.78) quantum yields. On the other hand, the presence of oxygen does not significantly modify the photobleaching of this photostable compound, the photodegradation quantum yield (φ_Pb) of which was found to be on the order of 5 × 10^?5 in organic solvents.     

Lysosomes Are Sites of Fluoroquinolone Photosensitization in Human Skin Fibroblasts: A Microspectrofluorometric Approach*

The fluoroquinolone antibiotics are widely used despite their strong phototoxicity under solar UV irradiation. Although they are known as good photodynamic photosensitizers, other factors than production of activated oxygen species may play a role in the effectiveness of the phototoxic effect. Subcellular localization is one of the important parameters that may determine this strength. Using microspectrofluorometry, it is shown that norfloxacin, ofloxacin, lomefloxacin, ciproflaxin and BAYy3118 are readily incorporated into lysosomes of HS68 human skin fibroblasts although weak staining of the whole cytoplasm also occurs especially with norfloxacin. Consistent with their photoinstability in solutions, the fluoroquinolones under study are readily photobleached by UVA in the HS68 fibroblasts. The BAYy3118 derivative that has the fastest bleaching rate also shows the strongest phototoxicity toward HS68 fibroblasts. Photosensitization with these fluoroquinolones induces lysosomal membrane damage as shown by the increased rate of leakage of the lysosomal probe lucifer yellow as compared to that observed with untreated cells.     

Chemiluminescence of Cypridina Luciferin Analogs. Part 3. MCLA Chemiluminescence with Singlet Oxygen Generated by the Retro-Diels-Alder Reaction of a Naphthalene Endoperoxide

The chemiluminescence of the Cypridina luciferin analog, 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroirnidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3-one (MCLA), with O₂ (¹Δ_g) generated by the retro-Diels-Alder reaction of 3-(4′-methyI-l'-naphthyl)-propionic acid endoperoxide was studied in an aqueous solution with pH 7.12 at 37°C. The retro-Diels-Alder reaction occurs with a first-order rate constant of (4.16 ± 0.13) × 10^?4/s to quantitatively yield O₂ (¹Δ_g) and 3-(4′-methyl-l'-naphthyl (-propionic acid. MCLA consumed equimolar amounts of O₂ (¹Δ_g) with a second-order rate constant (6.96 ± 0.27) × 10⁸/M/s to emit light in an aqueous solution with pH 7.12 at 37°C. The chemiluminescence spectrum was identified as the fluorescence spectrum of 2-acetylamino-5-(p-methoxyphenyl)pyrazine (OMCLA), a major chemiluminescence reaction. Chemiluminescence spectra and product yields for MCLA reactions with O₂¹Δ_g, with O₂ (³Σ^?_g) and with superoxide anion radicals are identical, suggesting that all of these reactions occur via a common MCLA-2-hydrope-roxide intermediate formed by a combination of MCLA radicals and superoxide anion radicals. We have established practical use of NEPO as an O₂ (¹Δ_g) source and MCLA as a biological probe for detecting O₂ (¹Δ_g).     

Photooxidation of Tryptophan: O2(1Δg) versus Electron-Transfer Pathway

Abstract— Tris (2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II)chloride hexahydrate (Ru[bpy]₃²+) free in solution and adsorbed onto antimony-doped SnO₂ colloidal particles was used as a photosensitizer for a comparison of the O₂(¹Δ_g) and electron-transfer-mediated photooxidation of tryptophan (TRP), respectively. Quenching of excited Ru(bpy)₃²+ by O₂(³σ_g^?) in an aerated aqueous solution leads only to the formation of O₂(¹Δ_g) (φ₄= 0.18) and this compound was used as a type II photosensitizer. Excitation of Ru(bpy)₃²+ adsorbed onto Sb/SnO₂ results in a fast injection of an electron into the conduction band of the semiconductor and accordingly to the formation of Ru(bpy)₃²+ and was used for the sensitization of the electron-transfer-mediated photooxidation. The Ru(bpy)₃³+ is reduced by TRP with a bimolecular rate constant k_Q= 5.9 × 10⁸M^?1 s^?1, while O₂(¹Δ_g) is quenched by TRP with k_t= 7.1 × 10⁷M^?1 s^?1 (chemical + physical quenching). Relative rate constants for the photooxidation of TRP (k_c) via both pathways were determined using fluorescence emission spectroscopy. With N_p, the rate of photons absorbed, being constant for both pathways we obtained k_c= (372/N_p) M^?1 s^?1 for the O₂(¹Δ_g) pathway and k_c≥ (25013/N_p) M^?1 s^?1 for the electron-transfer pathway, respectively. Thus the photooxidation of Trp is more than two orders of magnitude more efficient when it is initiated by electron transfer than when initiated by O₂(¹Δ_g).     

SPECTRAL AND PHOTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CURCUMIN

Curcumin, bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-l,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione, is a natural yellow-orange dye derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, an East Indian plant. In order to understand the photobiology of curcumin better we have studied the spectral and photochemical properties of both curcumin and 4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-3-buten-2-one (hC, half curcumin) in different solvents. In toluene, the absorption spectrum of curcumin contains some structure, which disappears in more polar solvents, e.g. ethanol, acetonitrile. Curcumin fluorescence is a broad band in acetonitrile (λ_max= 524 nm), ethanol (λ_max= 549 nm) or micellar solution (λ_max= 557 nm) but has some structure in toluene (λ_max= 460, 488 nm). The fluorescence quantum yield of curcumin is low in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution (φ= 0.011) but higher in acetonitrile (φ= 0.104). Curcumin produced singlet oxygen upon irradiation (φ > 400 nm) in toluene or acetonitrile (Φ= 0.11 for 50 μM curcumin); in acetonitrile curcumin also quenched ¹O₂ (k_q, = 7 × 10⁶ M^?1 s^?1). Singlet oxygen production was about 10 times lower in alcohols and was hardly detectable when curcumin was solubilized in a D₂O micellar solution of Triton X-100. In SDS micelles containing curcumin no singlet oxygen phosphorescence could be observed. Curcumin photogenerates superoxide in toluene and ethanol, which was detected using the electron paramagnetic resonance/spin-trapping technique with 5,5-dimethyl-pyrroline-.N-oxide as a trapping agent. Unidentified carbon-centered radicals were also detected. These findings indicate that the spectral and photochemical properties of curcumin are strongly influenced by solvent. In biological systems, singlet oxygen, superoxide and products of photodegradation may all participate in curcumin phototoxicity depending on the environment of the dye.     

THE EFFECT OF MEDIUM POLARITY ON THE HEMATOPORPHYRIN-SENSITIZED PHOTOOXIDATION OF l-TRYPTOPHAN

Abstract The 83 μM hematoporphyrin (HP)-sensitized photooxidation of 0.1 mM tryptophan in aqueous solution buffered at pH 7.4 or in binary mixtures of phosphate buffer and organic solvents of higher (formamide) or lower (N,N-dimethylformamide, methanol, ethanol, tetrahydrofuran) polarity proceeds by a pure singlet oxygen (¹O₂) mechanism as suggested by azide quenching experiments, the rate-enhancing action of deuterated solvents, and the lack of any significant reaction between triplet HP and tryptophan. Both the first-order rate constant of the photoprocess and the photooxidation quantum yield (φ= 0.011 in phosphate buffer at pH 7.4) increase when the medium polarity is increased (e.g. φ= 0.024 in 90% formamide); this results mainly from the greater quantum yield of ¹O₂ generation and the longer lifetime of ¹O₂. The intrinsic reactivity of ¹O₂ with tryptophan is independent of formamide concentration. A moderate decrease in the medium polarity (e.g. in the range 0-30% methanol) enhances the efficiency of tryptophan photooxidation (φ= 0.014 in 30% methanol) as a result of the enhanced quantum yields of triplet HP and ¹O₂ formation. In contrast, the overall photooxidation rate is depressed at high concentrations of low-polarity organic solvents (e.g. φ= 0.0039 in 90% methanol) due to a 5.5-fold drop of the rate constant for the ¹O₂-tryptophan reaction which counteracts the enhancement of the lifetime and quantum yield of triplet HP and ¹O₂. The solvent composition also affects the equilibria between monomeric and multimeric forms of HP. However, under our experimental conditions, the aggregation state of HP appears to exert only a minor influence on the efficiency of tryptophan photooxidation.     

Complex formation equilibria between aluminum(III), gadolinium(III) and yttrium(III) ions and some fluoroquinolone ligands. Potentiometric and spectroscopic study

Complex formation equilibria of aluminum(III), gadolinium(III), and yttrium(III) ions with the fluoroquinolone antibacterials moxifloxacin, ofloxacin, fleroxacin, lomefloxacin, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin were studied in aqueous solution by potentiometric and spectroscopic methods. The identity and stability of metal–fluoroquinolone complexes were determined by analyzing potentiometric titration curves (310 K, μ = 0.15 M NaCl, pH range = 2–11, C_L/C_M = 1?:?1 to 3?:?1, C_M = 1.0 mM) with the aid of Hyperquad2006 program. The main species formed in the system may be formulated as M_pH_qL_r (p = 1, q = ?2 to 2, r = 1–3, L = fluoroquinolone anion, logarithm of overall stability constant, log β_p,q,r = in the range ca. ?10 to 45). The stability of complexes is mostly influenced by metal ion properties (ionization potential, ionic radius) indicating partial ionic character of the coordination bond. The complexes were also characterized by spectroscopic measurements: spectrofluorimetry, ¹H-NMR, and ESI-MS. Fluorimetric data were evaluated with the aid of HypSpec2014 and indicated the formation of ML_r (r = 1–3) complexes with cumulative conditional stability constants significantly lower than the thermodynamic ones. NMR and MS data corroborate potentiometrically determined speciation. Calculated plasma mobilizing capacity of the ligands generally follows the order levofloxacin > moxifloxacin > ciprofloxacin at concentration levels of the ligands higher or equal to ca. 10^?4 M.     

Flow-Injection Chemiluminescence Determination of Fluoroquinolones

ABSTRACT

A new flow-injection CL method was developed for the determination of fluoroquinolones including ofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and lomefloxacin in pharmaceutical preparations, based on the chemiluminescence reaction of sulphite with cerium(IV) sensitized by these compounds. The linear ranges are 0.04 to 4.0 μg ml^?1 for ofloxacin and 0.4 to 40.0 μg ml^?1 for norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and lomefloxacin, respectively. The detection limits are 0.016 μg ml^?1 for ofloxacin and 0.16 μg ml ^?1 for norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and lomefloxacin, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSD) are 2.1 to 2.6% (n=10) for these fluoroquinolones. The analytical procedure has been applied to the determination of the fluoroquinolones in pharmaceutical commercial formulations. The results are in agreement with those obtained by the official methods.     

A 13C NMR study of the structure of sulfur-stabilized carbanions

The structure of the lithium and potassium salts of φSCH₃,φSOCH₃,φSO₂CH₃,φSO(NCH₃)CH₃ has been studied by ¹³C NMR in different solvents. The results show that the metalated carbon is nearly pyramidal in and nearly planar in φSOCH₂^?M⁺, whatever the solvent are cation are φSO₂CH₂^? φSCH₂^?M⁺ and φSO(NCH₃)CH₂^?M⁺ are in an intermediate hydridization state, cation and solvent dependent. For the sulfoxide, a four-center chelate is proposed, stable to strong solvating agents and only disrupted by cryptands. It is very likely responsible for the planar configuration of the anionic carbon.The low temperature study of φSOCH₂Li shows the existence of aggregates in THF. HMPA or external lithium salts disrupt these associations, giving rise to other species.The ¹³C NMR parameters of the whole series of sulfur-stabilized carbanions are quite consistent with the date reported for phosphorous and arsenic ylids: the

coupling constants appear to be a good probe of the geometry of the anionic carbon, whereas the chemical shifts are rather insensitive to its hybridization state.     

Dual Functioning Thieno‐Pyrrole Fused BODIPY Dyes for NIR Optical Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy: Singlet Oxygen Generation without Heavy Halogen Atom Assistance

We discovered a rare phenomenon wherein a thieno‐pyrrole fused BODIPY dye (SBDPiR690) generates singlet oxygen without heavy halogen atom substituents. SBDPiR690 generates both singlet oxygen and fluorescence. To our knowledge, this is the first example of such a finding. To establish a structure–photophysical property relationship, we prepared SBDPiR analogs with electron‐withdrawing groups at the para‐position of the phenyl groups. The electron‐withdrawing groups increased the HOMO–LUMO energy gap and singlet oxygen generation. Among the analogs, SBDPiR688, a CF₃ analog, had an excellent dual functionality of brightness (82290 m ^?1 cm^?1) and phototoxic power (99170 m ^?1 cm^?1) comparable to those of Pc 4, due to a high extinction coefficient (211 000 m ^?1 cm^?1) and balanced decay (Φ_flu=0.39 and Φ_Δ=0.47). The dual functionality of the lead compound SBDPiR690 was successfully applied to preclinical optical imaging and for PDT to effectively control a subcutaneous tumor.     

Why is Rose Bengal More Phototoxic to Fibroblasts In Vitro Than In Vivo?

Photosensitized protein cross‐linking has been recently developed to seal wounds and strengthen tissue. Although the photosensitizing dye, Rose Bengal (RB), is phototoxic to cultured cells, cytotoxicity does not accompany RB‐photosensitized tissue repair in vivo. We investigated whether the environment surrounding cells in tissue or the high irradiances used for photo–cross‐linking inhibited RB phototoxicity. Fibroblasts (FB) grown within collagen gels to mimic a tissue environment and monolayer cultured FB were treated with RB (0.01–1 mm ) and the high 532 nm laser irradiances used in vivo for tissue repair (0.10–0.50 W cm^?2). Monolayer FB were substantially more sensitive to RB photosensitization: the LD₅₀ was >200‐fold lower than that in collagen gels. Collagen gel protection was associated with increased Akt phosphorylation, a prosurvival pathway. RB phototoxicity in collagen gels was 25‐fold greater at low (0.030 W cm^?2) that at high (0.50 W cm^?2) irradiances. Oxygen depletion at high irradiance only partially accounted for the irradiance dependence of phototoxicity as replacing air with nitrogen only increased the LD₅₀ by four‐fold in monolayers. These results indicate that the lack of RB phototoxicity during in vivo tissue repair results from upregulation of prosurvival pathways in tissue cells, oxygen depletion and irradiance‐dependent RB photochemistry.     

Photoinduced Degradation of the Herbicide Clomazone Model Reactions for Natural and Technical Systems

The photodegradation of the herbicide clomazone in the presence of S₂O₈^2? or of humic substances of different origin was investigated. A value of (9.4 ± 0.4) × 10⁸ m ^?1 s^?1 was measured for the bimolecular rate constant for the reaction of sulfate radicals with clomazone in flash‐photolysis experiments. Steady state photolysis of peroxydisulfate, leading to the formation of the sulfate radicals, in the presence of clomazone was shown to be an efficient photodegradation method of the herbicide. This is a relevant result regarding the in situ chemical oxidation procedures involving peroxydisulfate as the oxidant. The main reaction products are 2‐chlorobenzylalcohol and 2‐chlorobenzaldehyde. The degradation kinetics of clomazone was also studied under steady state conditions induced by photolysis of Aldrich humic acid or a vermicompost extract (VCE). The results indicate that singlet oxygen is the main species responsible for clomazone degradation. The quantum yield of O₂(a¹Δ_g) generation (λ = 400 nm) for the VCE in D₂O, Φ_Δ = (1.3 ± 0.1) × 10^?3, was determined by measuring the O₂(a¹Δ_g) phosphorescence at 1270 nm. The value of the overall quenching constant of O₂(a¹Δ_g) by clomazone was found to be (5.7 ± 0.3) × 10⁷ m ^?1 s^?1 in D₂O. The bimolecular rate constant for the reaction of clomazone with singlet oxygen was k_r = (5.4 ± 0.1) × 10⁷ m ^?1 s^?1, which means that the quenching process is mainly reactive.     

FLASH PHOTOLYSIS STUDIES OF HEMATO-AND COPRO-PORPHYRINS IN HOMOGENEOUS AND MICROHETEROGENEOUS AQUEOUS DISPERSIONS

This paper describes an experimental study of the photo properties of the triplet (T,) states of hematoporphyrin (HP) and coproporphyrin (CP), particularly in relation to their medium dependence and reactivity towards oxygen. Triplet-triplet absorption spectra of HP and CP have been determined in aqueous buffer at pH = 7.4 and in water-methanol and water-formamide mixtures. The spectra corrected for ground state contributions show major absorption peaks near 400 nm and lesser peaks near 500 nm. Extinction coefficient measurements have been made and their dependences on solvent composition investigated. Natural lifetimes of the T₁ states of HP and CP and the bimolecular quenching constants with oxygen have been determined. The quantum yields of T₁ formation are ca. 0.6 in buffer rising to 0.8 and higher in predominantly organic media. Incorporation of the porphyrins into micellar phases similarly causes φ_T, to increase. Quantum efficiencies of O^?₂ and O₂(^lΔ_g) formation have been determined for HP in buffer, some binary mixtures and micellar dispersions. Superoxide yields are low and may result from photo-ionization processes. O₂(^lΔ_g) yields are large but appear to have an unexpected dependence on the medium.     

The Role of Singlet Oxygen in Photoreactivity and Phototoxicity of Curcumin

Curcumin is a plant-derived yellow-orange compound widely used as a spice, dye and food additive. It is also believed to have therapeutic effects against different disorders. On the other hand, there are data showing its phototoxicity against bacteria, fungi and various mammalian cells. Since the mechanism of its phototoxic action is not fully understood, we investigated here the phototoxic potential of curcumin in liposomal model membranes and in HaCaT cells. First, detection of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) luminescence proved that curcumin generates ¹O₂ upon blue light irradiation in organic solvent and in liposomes. Then, HPLC-EC(Hg) measurements revealed that liposomal and cellular cholesterol is oxidized by ¹O₂ photogenerated by curcumin. Enrichment of liposome membranes with curcumin significantly increased the oxygen photo-consumption rate compared to the control liposomes as determined by EPR oximetry. Cytotoxicity measurements, mitochondrial membrane potential analyses and protein hydroperoxides detection confirmed strong phototoxic effects of curcumin in irradiated HaCaT cells. These data show that since curcumin is advertised as a valuable dietary supplement, or a component of cosmetics for topical use, caution should be recommended especially when skin is exposed to light.     

Ambient UVA‐Induced Expression of p53 and Apoptosis in Human Skin Melanoma A375 Cell Line by Quinine

This study aimed to analyze the phototoxic mechanism and photostability of quinine in human skin cell line A375 under ambient intensities of UVA (320–400 nm). Photosensitized quinine produced a photoproduct 6‐methoxy‐quinoline‐4‐ylmethyl‐oxonium identified through LC‐MS/MS. Generation of ¹O₂, O₂^??, and ^?OH was measured and further substantiated through their respective quenchers. Photosensitized Quinine (Q) caused degradation of 2‐deoxyguanosine, the most sensitive nucleotide to UV radiation. The intracellular ROS was increased in a concentration‐dependent manner. Significant reduction in metabolic status measured in terms of cell viability (54%) at 25 μg mL^?1 was observed through MTT assay. Results of MTT assay accord NRU assay. Single strand DNA breaks and apoptosis were increased significantly (P < 0.01) as observed through comet assay and EB/AO double staining. Photosensitized quinine caused cells to arrest in G₂ phase of cell cycle and induced apoptosis (5.08%) as revealed through FACS. Real‐Time PCR showed upregulation of p21 (4.56 folds) and p53 (2.811 folds) genes expression. Thus, our study suggests that generation of reactive oxygen species by quinine under ambient intensity of UVA may result into deleterious phototoxic effects among human population.