Liposome binding constants and singlet oxygen quantum yields of hypericin, tetrahydroxy helianthrone and their derivatives: studies in organic solutions and in liposomes

The spectroscopy and photophysics of several hypericin and helianthrone derivatives were studied in methanol and when bound to liposomes. The singlet oxygen quantum yields (phi(delta)) were measured indirectly relative to Rose Bengal and hematoporphyrin IX, employing 9,10-dimethylanthracene as a singlet oxygen trap. Hypericin was found to have a phi(delta) of 0.39+/-0.01 in methanol, and 0.35+/-0.05 in lecithin vesicles, in agreement with literature values. A heavy atom effect was evident upon bromination, resulting in phi(delta) for tetrabromohypericin of 0.72+/-0.02, presumably due to enhanced intersystem crossing. Elimination of the anionic hydroxyls by methylation also enhanced phi(delta) to 0.81+/-0.01. Conversely, addition of anionic sulfate groups drastically reduced phi(delta) resulting in phi(delta)'s of 0.12+/-0.01, 0.052+/-0.003 and 0.40+/-0.01 for hypericin disulfonate, hypericin tetrasulfonate and hexamethyl hypericin tetrasulfonate, respectively. The non-sulfonated helianthrones exhibited low phi(delta)'s in solution. The liposome binding constants, Kb, were measured using a spectroscopic assay. Except for hexamethyl hypericin, all non-sulfonated compounds bound well with Kb's ranging from 15.5+/-0.1 to 48.7+/-3.9 (mg/ml)(-1). None of the tetrasulfonated compounds bound, however the hypericin disulfonate had a Kb of 4.1+/-0.2 (mg/ml)(-1). The phi(delta)'s of the compounds capable of binding were measured and, in the case of the hypericin derivatives, were found not to vary dramatically from those in the free state. Liposome-bound helianthrone and dimethyl tetrahydroxy helianthrone both exhibited high phi(delta)'s, i.e. >0.5. The variations in binding constant and sensitization efficiencies are explained in conjunction with the molecular structure. The relevance of the above data to photodynamic therapy is briefly discussed.     

Chemical and photochemical electron transfer of new helianthrone derivatives: aspects of their photodynamic activity

Helianthrones 2-4 are a new class of synthetic photosensitizers, which have a molecular skeleton related to that of hypericin. We established that irradiation of heliantrones with visible light leads to the formation of semiquinone radicals and reactive oxygen species. The structures of the paramagnetic anion species produced by electron transfer were calculated on the density functional level and investigated by cyclovoltammetry, UV/vis, and EPR/ENDOR spectroscopy. As with hypericin, the pi system of the helianthrones was found to be considerably deviated from planarity, and, upon electron transfer, deprotonation in the bay region occurs. The structure of the semiquinone radicals was found to be identical in THF, DMF, and aqueous buffered solutions regardless of the means by which reduction was achieved. Semiquinone radicals can be formed via self-electron transfer between the excited state and the ground state or via electron transfer from an electron donor to the excited state of helianthrone. Therefore, the presence of an electron donor significantly enhanced the photogeneration of semiquinone and superoxide radical. The kinetic studies showed that no significant photochemical destruction of helianthrones occurred upon irradiation. Generation of superoxide and singlet oxygen upon irradiation of helianthrones was established by spin trapping techniques. This shows that both type I and type II mechanisms are of importance for the photodynamic action of these compounds.     

"Competitive quenching": a mechanism by which perihydroxylated perylenequinone photosensitizers can prevent adverse phototoxic damage caused by verteporfin during photodynamic therapy

Incorporation of photodynamic therapy into clinical practice for induction of vascular photo-occlusion highlights the need to prevent adverse phototoxicity to sensitive juxtaposed tissues, particularly in the retina. We developed a system termed "competitive quenching" to prevent adverse phototoxic damage. It involves differential compartmentalization of a photoactivator to the intravascular compartment for photoexcitation and delivery of phototoxicity to targeted vessels. A different photodynamic agent is partitioned to the extravascular retinal space to quench reactive oxygen species generated by photosensitization, thereby protecting the adjacent retinal tissues from adverse phototoxicity. The absorption spectra of quenchers must span wavelengths that are shorter and excluded from the spectral range of photoexcitation light to prevent photoactivation of the quencher. Perihydroxylated perylenequinones were found to be suitable to function as "competitive quenchers" with the prototype hypericin identified as a potent quencher. Here we examined the mechanisms operative in competitive quenching and suggest that hypericin forms a complex with verteporfin, thereby quenching singlet oxygen formation. Furthermore, we show that hypericin, with six phenolic hydroxyls, protects retinal and endothelial hybridoma cells from phototoxicity more effectively than the dimethyl tetrahydroxy helianthrone structural analog with only four such phenolic hydroxyls. The findings suggest that hydroxyl numbers contribute to the efficacy of competitive quenching.     

SINGLET OXYGEN YIELDS, OPTICAL PROPERTIES, AND PHOTOTOXICITY OF REDUCED DERIVATIVES OF THE PHOTOSENSITIZER CERCOSPORIN

Abstract— The perylenequinone cercosporin (CR) is a singlet oxygen generating photosensitizer produced by Cercospora spp which plays a critical role in parasitism of plants by these fungi. Several lines of evidence suggest that the defense mechanism of Cercospora spp towards this toxin is the generation of a cell surface reducing environment that leads to transient reduction of CR. In order to demonstrate that reduced CR is less toxic, several derivatives of CR were synthesized. Hexaacetyl-dihydrocercos-porin (HAC) was prepared by reductive acetylation of CR. Noranhydrocercosporin (NAC) resulted from dehydration of CR and tetramethyl-noranhydrodihydrocercosporin (TMNAC) was a product of reductive methylation of NAC. The perylenequinones, CR and NAC, absorb more light than their respective reduced derivatives, but are much less fluorescent; the relative fluorescence intensities of HAC, TMNAC, and dithionite-reduced CR were 80–160 times greater than that of CR and NAC. Also, CR and NAC were more efficient at generating singlet oxygen. As measured by time-resolved IR luminescence, the singlet oxygen quantum yields relative to CR (adjusted to 1.00) were 0.16, 0.19 and 0.73, respectively, for HAC, TMNAC, and NAC. Toxicity was measured by assaying for inhibition of growth of CR-sensitive fungi in constant light. The reduced derivatives were less toxic than their respective oxidized forms. None of the compounds showed significant growth inhibition in the dark with any of the fungi, or when assayed in the light with the CR-resistant fungus Cercospora kikuchii. A lipid peroxidation assay with methyl linolenate also showed that HAC was less active than CR. Thus, reduction of CR leads to greater fluorescence intensities, lower production of singlet oxygen and lower phototoxicity. These data support the hypothesis of transient cercosporin reduction as a mechanism of defense against cercosporin toxicity.     

Photobleaching of hypericin bound to human serum albumin,cultured adenocarcinoma cells and nude mice skin

Hypericin is a promising photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) characterized by a high yield of singlet oxygen. Photobleaching of hypericin has been studied by means of absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy in different biological systems: in human serum albumin solution, in cultured human adenocarcinoma WiDr cells and in the skin of nude mice. Prolonged exposure to light (up to 95 min, 100 mW/cm2) of wavelength around 596 nm induced fluence-dependent photobleaching of hypericin in all studied systems. The photobleaching was not oxygen dependent, and singlet oxygen probably played no significant role. Emission bands in the spectral regions 420-560 nm and above 600 nm characterize the photoproducts formed. An emission band at 615-635 nm was observed after irradiation of cells incubated with hypericin or of mouse skin in vivo but not in albumin solution. The excitation spectrum of these products resembled that of hypericin. Hypericin appears to be more photostable than most sensitizers used in PDT, including mTHPC and Photofrin.     

Tumor cell toxicity of hypericin and related analogs

A series of hypericin analogs were found to differ in their cytotoxic activity induced by ambient light levels. These analogs vary in their ability to partition into cells, to generate singlet oxygen as well as in other photophysical properties. The data suggest that the biological activity of hypericin is due to a combination of factors whose roles may vary under different circumstances.     

ω,ω′-Appended nucleo-base derivatives of hypericin

ω,ω′-Disubstituted hypericin derivatives with the nucleo-bases thymine, cytosine, and adenine in these positions were prepared starting from tri-O-methyl-ω-bromoemodin. The most promising derivative proved to be that with a thymine moiety. It displayed the best solubility of the three products together with a potency to produce singlet oxygen and/or reactive oxygen species comparable to the parent compound hypericin. In addition, although no specific interaction with DNA or poly(2′-deoxyadenylic acid) could be detected, it proved to be significantly better accumulating in the nucleus of prostatic cancer LNCaP cells than hypericin making it a promising candidate for a second-generation photodynamic hypericin agent.     

ω,ω′-Appended nucleo-base derivatives of hypericin

ω,ω′-Disubstituted hypericin derivatives with the nucleo-bases thymine, cytosine, and adenine in these positions were prepared starting from tri-O-methyl-ω-bromoemodin. The most promising derivative proved to be that with a thymine moiety. It displayed the best solubility of the three products together with a potency to produce singlet oxygen and/or reactive oxygen species comparable to the parent compound hypericin. In addition, although no specific interaction with DNA or poly(2′-deoxyadenylic acid) could be detected, it proved to be significantly better accumulating in the nucleus of prostatic cancer LNCaP cells than hypericin making it a promising candidate for a second-generation photodynamic hypericin agent.     

Toward hypericin-derived potential photodynamic therapy agents

To optimize a hypericin derivative as a potential photodynamic therapy agent its light-induced singlet oxygen/superoxide radical formation capability should be enhanced and its long-wavelength absorption band should be bathochromically shifted to better match medicinal lasers. A heavy-atom-substituted derivative was realized by electrophilic iodination of hypericin to yield 2,5-diiodo-hypericin. Using photodestruction of bilirubin IX alpha this derivative was demonstrated to exhibit an enhanced light-induced singlet oxygen/superoxide radical formation capability as compared to hypericin. With respect to a bathochromically shifted derivative styryl residues were attached to the methyl groups of hypericin by de novo ring synthesis. Although the long-wavelength absorption band of this derivative displayed a bathochromic shift of nearly 40 nm it unfortunately immediately underwent an intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition to yield the corresponding cyclobutane derivative in which the added conjugation system became interrupted.     

Computed Regioselectivity and Conjectured Biological Activity of Ene Reactions of Singlet Oxygen with the Natural Product Hyperforin

Hyperforin is a constituent of St. John's wort and coexists with the singlet oxygen sensitizer hypericin. Density functional theory, molecular mechanics and Connolly surface calculations show that accessibility in the singlet oxygen “ene” reaction favors the hyperforin “southwest” and “southeast” prenyl (2‐methyl‐2‐butenyl) groups over the northern prenyl groups. While the southern part of hyperforin is initially more susceptible to oxidation, up to 4 “ene” reactions of singlet oxygen can take place. Computational results assist in predicting the fate of adjacent hydroperoxides in hyperforin, where the loss of hydrogen atoms may lead to the formation of a hydrotrioxide and a carbonyl instead of a Russell reaction.     

Quantification of Thiopurine/UVA-Induced Singlet Oxygen Production

Thiopurines were examined for their ability to produce singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) with UVA light. The target compounds were three thiopurine prodrugs, azathioprine (Aza), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and 6-thioguanine (6-TG), and their S-methylated derivatives of 6-methylmercaptopurine (me6-MP) and 6-methylthioguanine (me6-TG). Our results showed that these thiopurines were efficient (1)O(2) sensitizers under UVA irradiation but rapidly lost their photoactivities for (1)O(2) production over time by a self-sensitized photooxidation of sulfur atoms in the presence of oxygen and UVA light. The initial quantum yields of (1)O(2) production were determined to be in the range of 0.30-0.6 in aqueous solutions. Substitution of a hydrogen atom with a nitroimidazole or methyl group at S decreased the efficacy of photosensitized (1)O(2) production as found for Aza, me6-MP and me6-TG. (1)O(2)-induced formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-dexyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) was assessed by incubation of 6-methylthiopurine/UVA-treated calf thymus DNA with human repair enzyme 8-oxodGuo DNA glycosylase (hOGG1), followed by apurinic (AP) site determination. Because more 8-oxodGuo was formed in Tris D(2)O than in Tris H(2)O, (1)O(2) is implicated as a key species in the reaction. These findings provided quantitative information on the photosensitization efficacy of thiopurines and to some extent revealed the correlations between photoactivity and phototoxicity.     

PHOTODYNAMIC ACTION IN Stentor coeruleus SENSITIZED BY ENDOGENOUS PIGMENT STENTORIN

Abstract— Stentorin acts as the photoreceptor for the step-up photophobic and negative phototactic responses in Stentor coeruleus . The chromophore of stentorin appears to be hypericin which is linked to apoprotein. In addition to the photomovement responses of the organism, S. coeruleus was found to be photodynamically sensitive to light absorbed by the hypericin chromophore, as the apparent action spectrum for the photodynamic killing matches the absorption spectrum of stentorin. The protective effect of β-carotene and crocetin on the photodynamic killing of S. coeruleus suggests that singlet oxygen generated by the stentorin-sensitization plays an important role, according to the so-called Type II mechanism of photosensitization. The generation of singlet oxygen via hypericin triplet was confirmed by in vitro photooxidation of tryptophan as a substrate. The photodynamic killing was more effective in deuterium oxide than in H₂O in both the photosensitization by stentorin (endogenous) and added hypericin (exogenous). These results are consistent with the involvement of singlet oxygen in the photodynamic killing of S. coeruleus .     

PHOTOACTIVATION OF HYPERICIN GENERATES SINGLET OXYGEN IN MITOCHONDRIA AND INHIBITS SUCCINOXIDASE

Photosensitized inhibition of mitochondrial succinoxidase by hypericin was measured in vitro and found to be drug-dose, light-dose, and wavelength dependent. Singlet oxygen generation, monitored using the singlet oxygen trap tetramethylethylene, and oxygen consumption in isolated mitochondria sensitized by hypericin were also light-dose and wavelength dependent. Unequivocal evidence for the generation of singlet oxygen was obtained using kinetic isotope ratios of products from the reaction between singlet oxygen and geminally deuterated tetramethylethylene. An action spectrum for the inhibition of succinoxidase was measured at wavelengths between 400 and 700 nm and found to parallel the recorded visible absorption spectrum of hypericin in isolated mitochondria. The greatest singlet oxygen generation, oxygen consumption, and succinoxidase inhibition occurred with white light or 600 nm irradiation. These data are consistent with a type II singlet-oxygen-mediated mechanism for hypericin induced photosensitized inhibition of mitochondrial succinoxidase.     

Photochemistry and phototoxicity of aloe emodin

Photochemical pathways leading to the phototoxicity of the aloe vera constituent aloe emodin were studied. The results indicate a photochemical mechanism involving singlet oxygen to be the most likely pathway responsible for the observed phototoxicity. Aloe emodin was found to efficiently generate singlet oxygen when irradiated with UV light (phidelta = 0.56 in acetonitrile). The survival of human skin fibroblast cells in the presence of aloe emodin was found to decrease upon irradiation with UV light. A further decrease in cell survival was observed in D2O compared with H2O, suggesting the involvement of singlet oxygen as the primary pathway. Laser flash photolysis experiments were also carried out on aloe emodin alone and in the presence of various biological substrates. Aloe emodin proved to be relatively photostable (phi = 1 x 10(-4)) and a poor photo-oxidant (E*red = +1.02 V). Only absorption bands caused by the triplet state of aloe emodin (lambdamax = 480 nm) and the aloe emodin conjugate base (lambdamax = 520 nm) were observed in the transient spectra.     

Spectroscopic properties and photodynamic effects of new lipophilic porphyrin derivatives: efficacy, localisation and cell death pathways

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photodynamic diagnostics (PDD) of cancer are based on the use of non-toxic dyes (photosensitisers) in combination with harmless visible light. This paper reports physicochemical properties, cell uptake, localisation as well as photodynamic efficiency of two novel lipophilic porphyrin derivatives, suitable for use as PDT sensitisers. Both compounds are characterised by high quantum yield of singlet oxygen generation which was measured by time-resolved phosphorescence. Photodynamic in vitro studies were conducted on three cancer cell lines. Results of cell survival tests showed negligible dark cytotoxicity but high phototoxicity. The results also indicate that cell death is dependent on energy dose and time following light exposure. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy both compounds were found to localise in the cytoplasm around the nucleus of the tumour cells. The mode of cell death was evaluated based on the morphological changes after differential staining. In summary, good photostability, high quantum yield of singlet oxygen and biological effectiveness indicate that the examined lipophilic porphyrin derivatives offer quite interesting prospects of photodynamic therapy application.     

9,12-Dibenzothiazolylhypericin and 10,11-Dibenzothiazolyl-10,11-didemethylhypericin: Photochemical Properties of Hypericin Derivatives Depending on the Substitution Site

Investigating the properties of similar but regioselectively differently substituted hypericin derivatives, 9,12-dibenzothiazolylhypericin was synthesized and compared with the recently prepared 10,11-analogue. A significant difference in the ability to generate singlet oxygen and/or reactive oxygen species and different absorption spectra of these two derivatives were observed.     

9,12-Dibenzothiazolylhypericin and 10,11-Dibenzothiazolyl-10,11-didemethylhypericin: Photochemical Properties of Hypericin Derivatives Depending on the Substitution Site

Summary. Investigating the properties of similar but regioselectively differently substituted hypericin derivatives, 9,12-dibenzothiazolylhypericin was synthesized and compared with the recently prepared 10,11-analogue. A significant difference in the ability to generate singlet oxygen and/or reactive oxygen species and different absorption spectra of these two derivatives were observed.     

NOVEL RED ABSORBING BENZO[a]PHENOXAZINIUM and BENZO[a]PHENOTHIAZINIUM PHOTOSENSITIZERS: in vitro EVALUATION

Abstract Taking advantage of the'heavy atom'effect, we have recently prepared a series of nine novel halogenated and sulfur-substituted benzophenoxazines which have enhanced intersystem crossing to the triplet state as measured by singlet oxygen photobleaching of 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran. The dyes were evaluated for their dark and light-induced toxicities towards several carcinomata and normal primary cell lines. One of these days, 5-amino-6-iodo-9-diethylaminobenzol[a]phenoxazinium chloride, was found to be a potent photosensitizer for a murine sarcoma 180 and four human carcinomata cell lines (larynx Hep2, cervical HeLa, rectal tumor cell HRT, and transitional-cell bladder BTC). Several dyes caused marked light dependent killing of two tumor cell lines (Hep2 and HRT) but were minimally toxic to a normal bovine fetal kidney (BFK) line. Sulfur substitutuion into the benzophenoxazine nucleus results, under the conditions studied, in the largest enhancement of phototoxicity both to normal and cancer cells. Comparisons between appropriate dyes show a correlation between the efficiency of singlet oxygen generation and phototoxicity. These results suggest that the photosensitizing efficacy of certain cationic benzophenoxazinium chromophores, such as Nile Blue A, can be greatly increased by appropriate structural modification. The demonstrated selectivity for carcinoma cells by some of these new photosensitizers may be useful therapeutically.     

Aza‐BODIPY Derivatives: Enhanced Quantum Yields of Triplet Excited States and the Generation of Singlet Oxygen and their Role as Facile Sustainable Photooxygenation Catalysts

A new series of aza‐BODIPY derivatives ( 4 a – 4 c , 5 a , c , and 6 b , c ) were synthesized and their excited‐state properties, such as their triplet excited state and the yield of singlet‐oxygen generation, were tuned by substituting with heavy atoms, such as bromine and iodine. The effect of substitution has been studied in detail by varying the position of halogenation. The core‐substituted dyes showed high yields of the triplet excited state and high efficiencies of singlet‐oxygen generation when compared to the peripheral‐substituted systems. The dye 6 c , which was substituted with six iodine atoms on the core and peripheral phenyl ring, showed the highest quantum yields of the triplet excited state (Φ_T=0.86) and of the efficiency of singlet‐oxygen generation (Φ_Δ=0.80). Interestingly, these dyes were highly efficient as photooxygenation catalysts under artificial light, as well as under normal sunlight conditions. The uniqueness of these aza‐BODIPY systems is that they are stable under irradiation conditions, possess strong red‐light absorption (620–680 nm), exhibit high yields of singlet‐oxygen generation, and act as efficient and sustainable catalysts for photooxygenation reactions.     

Toxic Interaction Between Solar Radiation and Cigarette Smoke on Primary Human Keratinocytes

Solar radiation and cigarette smoke are two environmental risk factors known to affect skin integrity. Although the toxic effects of these factors on skin have been widely studied separately, few studies have focused on their interaction. The objective of this study was to evaluate and understand the synergistic harmful effects of cigarette smoke and solar rays on human primary keratinocytes. The keratinocytes were exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and then irradiated with a solar simulator light (SSL). The viability, as determined by measuring metabolic activity of skin cells, and the levels of global reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated after exposure to CSE and SSL. The combination of 3% CSE with 29 kJ m⁻² UVA caused a decrease of 81% in cell viability, while with 10% to 20% CSE, the cell viability was null. This phototoxicity was accompanied by an increase in singlet oxygen but a decrease in type I ROS when CSE and SSL were combined in vitro. Surprisingly, an increase in the CSE's total antioxidant capacity was also observed. These results suggest a synergy between the two environmental factors in their effect on skin cells, and more precisely a phototoxicity causing a drastic decrease in cell viability.