Glycosylated zinc(II) phthalocyanines as efficient photosensitisers for photodynamic therapy. Synthesis, photophysical properties and in vitro photodynamic activity

Treatment of 3- or 4-nitrophthalonitrile with 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-d-glucofuranose or 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-d-galactopyranose in the presence of K(2)CO(3) gave the corresponding glycosubstituted phthalonitriles. These precursors underwent self-cyclisation, or mixed-cyclisation with the unsubstituted phthalonitrile, to afford the tetra- or mono-glycosylated zinc(ii) phthalocyanines, respectively. As shown by absorption spectroscopy, these compounds were not significantly aggregated in organic solvents, giving a weak to moderate fluorescence emission. Upon irradiation these compounds could sensitise the formation of singlet oxygen in DMF, with quantum yields in the range of 0.40-0.66. The in vitro photodynamic activities of these compounds against HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma and HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells were also studied. The mono-glycosylated phthalocyanines exhibited significantly higher photocytotoxicity compared with the tetra-alpha-glycosylated analogues, having IC(50) values down to 0.9 muM. The tetra-beta-glycosylated counterparts were essentially inactive. The lower photocytotoxicities of the tetra-glycosylated phthalocyanines are in line with their lower cellular uptake and/or higher aggregation tendency as reflected by weaker intracellular fluorescence, and lower efficiency at generating intracellular reactive oxygen species. For the mono-glycosylated phthalocyanines, the higher uptake can be attributed to their hydrophilic saccharide units, which increase the amphiphilicity of the macrocycles.     

Preparation and photodynamic activities of silicon(IV) phthalocyanines substituted with permethylated β-cyclodextrins

A series of silicon(IV) phthalocyanines linked to two permethylated β‐cyclodextrin moieties through different spacers at the axial positions have been synthesized and characterized. The effects of these spacers on the photophysical properties and in vitro photodynamic activities have also been examined. Having two bulky hydrophilic substituents, all of these compounds are soluble and essentially nonaggregated in DMF and even in aqueous media. The fluorescence and singlet oxygen quantum yields in DMF are lower for the analogue with the shortest separation between the amino group in the spacer and the phthalocyanine ring. The fluorescence quantum yield of this compound increases in water probably due to protonation of the amino group, which inhibits the reductive quenching process. This series of compounds also exhibit photocytotoxicity toward HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma and HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cells with IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.04–1.32 μM . The analogue with an α,ω‐aminohydroxypentyl linker shows the highest potency, which can be ascribed to its high cellular uptake and high efficiency in generating intracellular reactive oxygen species. This compound also shows preferential localization in the lysosome, induces cell death mainly through apoptosis, and inhibits the growth of tumor in vivo. The results suggest that it is a promising photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy.     

Synthesis and in vitro photodynamic activity of novel galactose-containing phthalocyanines

A novel series of silicon(IV) phthalocyanines with one or two axial acetal-protected galactose substituent(s) have been prepared by typical substitution reactions. The compounds exhibit a high photodynamic activity against HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cells with IC₅₀ values down to 0.10 μM.     

A comparative study of the cellular uptake and photodynamic efficacy of three novel zinc phthalocyanines of differing charge

Three novel substituted zinc (II) phthalocyanines (one anionic, one cationic and one neutral) were compared to two clinically used photosensitizers, 5,10,15,20-tetra(m-hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (m-THPC) and polyhematoporphyrin (PHP), as potential agents for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Using the RIF-1 cell line, photodynamic efficacy was shown to be related to cellular uptake. The cationic phthalocyanine (PPC, pyridinium zinc [II] phthalocyanine) had improved activity over the other two phthalocyanines and slightly improved activity over PHP and m-THPC. The initial subcellular localization of each photosensitizer was dependent upon the hydrophobicity and plasma protein binding. The phthalocyanines had a punctate distribution indicative of lysosomes, whereas m-THPC and PHP had a more diffuse cytoplasmic localization. A relocalization of phthalocyanine fluorescence was observed in some cases following low-level light exposure, and this was charge dependent. The anionic phthalocyanine (TGly, tetraglycine zinc [II] phthalocyanine) relocalized to the nuclear area, the localization of the hydrophobic phthalocyanine (TDOPc, tetradioctylamine zinc [II] phthalocyanine) was unchanged, whereas the distribution of the cationic phthalocyanine (PPC) became more cytoplasmic. This suggests that relocalization following low-level irradiation is a critical factor governing efficacy, and a diffuse cytoplasmic distribution may be a determinant of good photodynamic activity.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel flavonoid-substituted phthalocyanines using (±)naringenin

In this study, novel unsymmetrical mono- and di-substituted metal free and metallo phthalocyanines containing peripheral naringeninoxy moieties have been prepared. The naringenin-substituted phthalonitrile was synthesized from 4-nitrophthalonitrile and (±)naringenin in dimethylsulfoxide. Preparation of unsymmetrical mono- and di-substituted phthalocyanines, 2-naringenin-7-O-phthalocyaninatozinc, 2,9-bis-naringenin-7-O-phthalocyaninatozinc, 2,9-bis-naringenin-7-O-phthalocyaninatocobalt and 2,9-bis-naringenin-7-O-phthalocyanine was performed at 120-140 °C using the corresponding phthalonitrile in the presence of N,N-dimethylethanolamine (DMAE), ZnCl₂, CoCl₂ and LiCl, respectively. Synthesized new phthalocyanine compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis and ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, MS and UV-vis spectroscopy. These are the first known examples of flavonoid-substituted phthalocyanines.     

Synthesis, photophysical and thermal studies of symmetrical and unsymmetrical zinc phthalocyanines

The novel zinc phthalocyanine (3) with malonylester and chloro groups on each benzo unit was synthesized from 4-diethoxymalonyl-5-chloro-phthalonitrile (1). The unsymmetrically substituted zinc phthalocyanine (5), carrying hexylthio, malonylester and chloro groups at the periphery, was obtained from 4-diethoxymalonyl-5-chloro-phthalonitrile (1) and 4,5-bis-hexylsulfanyl-phthalonitrile (2) by a statistical condensation method as an A₃B type unsymmetrical phthalocyanine compound. Transesterification of the malonyl esters of the new symmetrical and unsymmetrical phthalocyanines occurred during the cyclotetramerization of dinitriles with Zn(CH₃COO)₂ in 1-pentanol in the presence of DBU. Octa-hexylthio-substituted zinc phthalocyanine (4) was prepared according to the literature. The photophysical and thermal properties of all the phthalocyanine complexes are described for the first time. These novel symmetrical and unsymmetrical phthalocyanine macrocycles have been characterized by a series of spectroscopic methods including ¹H NMR, electronic absorption, IR and mass spectroscopy, in addition to elemental analysis. Their narrow long wavelength absorption band shows that the bulky substituents on the periphery prevent aggregation. The unsymmetrically substituted phthalocyanine (5) gave a greater fluorescence quantum yield in chloroform than the symmetrical analogues (3 and 4).     

Photophysical, photochemical and BSA binding/BQ quenching properties of quaternizable coumarin containing water soluble zinc phthalocyanine complexes

The non-peripherally (np-QZnPc) and peripherally (p-QZnPc) tetrakis-[7-oxo-(3-[(2-diethylaminomethyliodide)ethyl)]-4-methylcoumarin]-phthalocyaninatozinc complexes have been prepared by quaternization of non-peripherally and peripherally tetrakis[7-oxo-(3-[(2-diethylamino)ethyl)]-methylcoumarin] phthalocyaninato zinc complexes with methyliodide in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The new quaternized zinc phthalocyanine complex (np-QZnPc) has been characterized by elemental analysis, MALDI-TOF, IR and UV-vis spectral data. The photophysical and photochemical properties of the peripherally and non-peripherally quaternized tetrakis-3-[(2-diethylamino)ethyl]-7-oxo-4-methylcoumarin substituted zinc phthalocyanines are reported. The effects of the position of the substituents and the aggregation of the phthalocyanine molecules on the photophysical and photochemical properties are also investigated. General trends are described for photodegradation, singlet oxygen and fluorescence quantum yields, and fluorescence lifetimes for complexes np-ZnPc/p-ZnPc in DMSO and for complexes np-QZnPc/p-QZnPc in DMSO, phosphate buffered solution (PBS) and PBS+Triton-X 100 solutions. The fluorescence of the tetra-substituted quaternized zinc phthalocyanine complexes (np-QZnPc/p-QZnPc) are effectively quenched addition of 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) and this study also presented the ionic zinc phthalocyanine complexes strongly bind to bovine serum albumin (BSA).     

Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of a novel zinc phthalocyanine with four 17-membered crown ether voids

A novel zinc phthalocyanine containing four 17-crown-5 ether voids(17C5ZnPc) has been synthesized and characterized. UV-visible absorption and fluorescence emission spectra and as-sociated photophysical parameters have been determined. In contrast to most of the crown ether substituted phthalocyanines, no cofacial dimer formation is observed in the presence of alkali metal salts. In addition to the fluorescence at 710 nm from S1, a strong upper excited state (Soret 52) emission around 424 nm has been detected for the first time in the phthalocyanine series. Fluorescence decay of S1 and S2 emission can be analyzed by mono- and biexponential fits respectively. X-ray structure analysis showed that the crown ether unit is conformationally deformed and oblate that may account for the unusual spectroscopic properties.     

Synthesis,Spectroscopic Properties,and Photodynamic Anticancer Activities of Novel Arginine-modified Silicon(Ⅳ) Phthalocyanines

We design and synthesize a series of novel silicon(IV)phthalocyanines(SiPcs,1a,2a,1b,and 2b)axially conjugated with arginine or arginine-containing oligopeptides(Arg-Arg,Cys-Arg,Cys-Arg-Arg)through ester or ether linkers to demonstrate the effects of substituents and coupling ways on the spectral behaviors and photodynamic activities.The ester-linked SiPcs(1a and 2a)show slight red-shift,higher fluorescence emission and singlet oxygen generation compared to the ether-linked analogues(1b and 2b)due to the stronger electron-withdrawing ability of the ester group,suggesting that electronic effect of the linkers plays an important role in their spectral properties.The introduction of arginine could effectively reduce the aggregation of phthalocyanine in aqueous solutions.With higher cellular uptake and plasma membrane localization ability,1b and 2b exhibit significantly higher photocytotoxicity against both HepG2 and Hela cells.Moreover,the in vivo fluorescence imaging suggests that 2b is the most specific toward H22 tumor-bearing ICR mice,and it shows efficient tumor growth inhibition with the tumor inhibition rate up to 93%.Thus,this work would provide a new reference for the development of phthalocyanine-based photosensitizers.     

Dendritic phthalocyanines: synthesis,photophysical properties,and aggregation behavior

This mini-account describes our recent effort to exploit dendritic phthalocyanines, focusing on their photophysical properties and aggregation behavior in water and in microheterogeneous media. Two series of dendritic phthalocyanines have been prepared. The ones with terminal ester functionalities are non-aggregated in common organic solvents, exhibiting an intramolecular singlet-singlet energy transfer from the excited aryl-containing dendrons to the phthalocyanine core. The other series contain terminal carboxylate groups of which the aggregation tendency in water decreases as the size of the dendron increases. The lower-generation analogues are susceptible to surfactants, in particular the cationic n-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), which are very effective to disrupt the molecular aggregation of phthalocyanines. The interactions have been monitored by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy together with laser light scattering. The photophysical properties of the dendrimer/PEO complexes have also been studied by transient spectroscopy. To cite this article: D.K.P. Ng, C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).     

Design of novel substituted phthalocyanines; synthesis and fluorescence,DFT, photovoltaic properties

The 4-(2-[3,4-dimethoxyphenoxy] phenoxy) phthalonitrile was synthesized as the starting material of new syntheses. Zinc, copper, and cobalt phthalocyanines were achieved by reaction of starting compound with Zn(CH3COO)2, CuCl2, and CoCl2 metal salts. Basic spectroscopic methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance electronic absorption, mass and infrared spectrometry were used in the structural characterization of the compounds. Absorption, excitation, and emission measurements of the fluorescence zinc phthalocyanine compound were also investigated in THF. Then, structural, energy, and electronic properties for synthesized metallophthalocyanines were determined by quantum chemical calculations, including the DFT method. The bandgap of HOMO and LUMO was determined to be chemically active. Global reactivity (I, A, η, s, μ, χ, ω) and nonlinear properties were studied. In addition, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps were drawn to identify potential reactive regions of metallophthalocyanine (M-Pc) compounds. Photovoltaic performances of phthalocyanine compounds for dye sensitive solar cells were investigated. The solar conversion efficiency of DSSC based on copper, zinc, and cobalt phthalocyanine compounds was 1.69%, 1.35%, and 1.54%, respectively. The compounds have good solubility and show nonlinear optical properties. Zinc phthalocyanine gave fluorescence emission.     

Comparison between non-peripherally and peripherally tetra-substituted zinc (II) phthalocyanines as photosensitizers: Synthesis,spectroscopic, photochemical and photobiological properties

A series of zinc phthalocyanines tetra-α-substituted with 4-(butoxycarbonyl) phenoxy groups (1a) or 4-carboxylphenoxy groups (2a) or 4-(2-carboxyl-ethyl)phenoxy groups (3a), and the corresponding tetra-β-substituted (1–3b) analogues, have been synthesized and characterized. The effects of the position of substituents at the phthalocyanine skeleton on their spectroscopic, photochemical and photobiological properties have been revealed. When compared with the tetra-β-substituted phthalocyanines, the corresponding tetra-α-substituted analogues exhibit a less aggregating trend in the cellular growth medium, a slightly higher singlet oxygen quantum yield and higher photo-stability in DMF, and a comparable cellular uptake. As a result, the tetra-α-substituted zinc phthalocyanines exhibit a higher photocytotoxicity toward MGC803 human gastric carcinoma cells than the tetra-β-substituted counterparts. Among all these compounds, phthalocyanine 2a shows the highest photodynamic activity, which may mainly be due to its non-aggregated nature in cellular culture medium and high cellular uptake.     

Highly photostable silicon(IV) phthalocyanines containing adamantane moieties: synthesis, structure, and properties

Two new axially disubstituted silicon(IV) phthalocyanines 1 and 2 have been synthesized by treating silicon phthalocyanine dichloride with 1-adamantanemethanol or 1-adamamtaneethanol, respectively. The crystal structure of compound 2 has been characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Both compounds are efficient singlet-oxygen generator with a quantum yield of 0.40-0.43. With two rigid bulky adamantane moieties at the axial positions, these phthalocyanines not only are essentially non-aggregated in common solvents, but also exhibit a high photostability. They are about 100 times more stable than zinc phthalocyanine under the same irradiation conditions. With the goal of enhancing the biocompatibilities, interactions and conjugations of these two compounds with bovine serum albumin have also been investigated.     

Photophysical characterization of dysprosium, erbium and lutetium phthalocyanines tetrasubstituted with phenoxy groups at non-peripheral positions

Dysprosium bis-phthalocyanine and monomeric phthalocyanines of erbium and lutetium with non-peripheral phenoxy substituents have been synthesized using two different preparative routes. Photophysical studies on these phthalocyanines revealed that the triplet states of dysprosium and erbium are not populated while the monomeric phthalocyanine complex of lutetium is populated with a quantum yield of 0.83 and a lifetime of 25 μs in DMSO. It was further found that the phthalocyanine complex of lutetium was capable of photochemical generation of singlet state molecular oxygen with yield of 0.71 in THF, thus a promising photosensitizer. However, the three phthalocyanine molecules have very low fluorescence quantum yields of less than 0.01.     

Synthesis, photophysical and photochemical properties of substituted zinc phthalocyanines

The synthesis, photophysical and photochemical properties of the 4-({3,4,5-tris-[2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyloxy]benzyl}oxy) and 4-({3,4,5-tris-[2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyloxy]benzyl}thio) zinc(ii) phthalocyanines are reported for the first time. The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy and mass spectra. General trends are described for photodegradation, singlet oxygen, fluorescence and triplet excited state quantum yields, and triplet state and fluorescence lifetimes of these compounds in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The fluorescence of the complexes was quenched by benzoquinone (BQ). The effects of the substitution on the photophysical and photochemical parameters of the zinc(II) phthalocyanines (6, 7 and 8) are also reported. Photophysical and photochemical properties of phthalocyanine complexes are very useful for PDT applications. The substituted Zn(II) phthalocyanines showed high triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields. High singlet oxygen quantum yields are very important for Type II mechanism. Thus, these complexes show potential as Type II photosensitizers.     

Highly coupled dyads based on phthalocyanine-ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine) complexes. Synthesis and photoinduced processes

A new series of multicomponent ZnPc-Ru(bpy)(3) systems, 1a-c, consisting of a zinc-phthalocyanine linked through conjugated and/or nonconjugated connections to a ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine) complex, has been synthesized. The ruthenium complexes 1a-c were prepared from phthalocyanines 2a-c, bearing a 4-substituted-2,2'-bipyridine ligand by treatment with [Ru(bpy)2Cl2].2H2O. Different synthetic strategies have been devised to prepare the corresponding dyad precursors (2a-c). Compound 2a, for example, with an ethenyl bridge, was synthesized by statistical condensation of 4-tert-butylphthalonitrile and 5-[(E)-2-(3,4-dicyanophenyl)ethenyl]-2,2'-bipyridine (3) in the presence of zinc chloride. Compounds 2b and 2c, having, respectively, an amide or an ethynyl bridge, were prepared following a different synthetic approach. The method involves the coupling of an appropriate 5-substituted-2,2'-bipyridine to an unsymmetrical phthalocyanine suitably functionalized with an amino (4) or an ethynyl group (5). The photophysical properties of the dyads that are ZnPc-Ru(bpy)3 1a-c and related model compounds have been determined by a variety of steady-state (i.e., fluorescence) and time-resolved methods (i.e., fluorescence and transient absorption). Clearly, intramolecular electronic interactions between the two subunits dominate the photophysical events following the initial excitation of either chromophore. These intramolecular interactions lead, in the case of photoexcited ZnPc, to faster intersystem crossing kinetics compared to a ZnPc reference, while photoexcited [Ru(bpy)3]2+) undergoes a rapid and efficient transduction of triplet excited-state energy to the Pc.     

Fully Protected Glycosylated Zinc (II) Phthalocyanine Shows High Uptake and Photodynamic Cytotoxicity in MCF‐7 Cancer Cells

Phthalocyanine photosensitizers are effective in anticancer photodynamic therapy (PDT) but suffer from limited solubility, limited cellular uptake and limited selectivity for cancer cells. To improve these characteristics, we synthesized isopropylidene‐protected and partially deprotected tetra β‐glycosylated zinc (II) phthalocyanines and compared their uptake and accumulation kinetics, subcellular localization, in vitro photocytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species generation with those of disulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine. In MCF‐7 cancer cells, one of the compounds, zinc phthalocyanine {4}, demonstrated 10‐fold higher uptake, 5‐fold greater PDT‐induced cellular reactive oxygen species concentration and 2‐fold greater phototoxicity than equimolar (9 μm ) disulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine. Thus, isopropylidene‐protected β‐glycosylation of phthalocyanines provides a simple method of improving the efficacy of PDT.     

四取代羧基酞菁锌与白蛋白共价结合物的制备与光谱性质

通过成酰胺键的方式制备了一系列含羧基酞菁和白蛋白(牛血清白蛋白(BSA),人血清白蛋白(HSA))之间的共价结合物,所涉及到的酞菁分别是α-四(4-羧基苯氧基)酞菁锌(1)和α-四[4-(2-羧基乙基)苯氧基]酞菁锌(3),以及它们相应的β位四取代酞菁锌(化合物2和4).比较了游离酞菁以及它们的白蛋白结合物在磷酸盐缓冲溶液(PBS)中的光谱性质.结果表明,当酞菁被共价固定于白蛋白大分子上之后,展现出比游离酞菁更明显的单体特征吸收,而且结合物中的酞菁光谱特征不受体系pH值变化的影响.羧基在酞菁环上的取代位置,对酞菁与白蛋白结合前后的光谱转变幅度有影响,α位取代比β位取代更有利于光谱的变化.化合物1和3的白蛋白共价结合物在PBS溶液中甚至呈现出单体形式为主的光谱特征,Q带最大吸收波长分别位于697和706nm附近.     

Synthesis of novel unsymmetrical phthalocyanines substituted with crown ether and nitro groups

This work reports on the synthesis of new unsymmetrically substituted phthalocyanines (M = Zn, Cu, Co, Ni) bearing three benzo-15-crown-5 units through oxy bridges and a nitro group. Phthalocyanines were prepared by a statistical condensation of 4-nitro phthalonitrile and 1-{[(benzo-15-crown-5)-4′-yl]oxy}phthalonitrile in the presence of anhydrous metal salts. All the target unsymmetrical phthalocyanines were separated by column chromatography and characterized elemental analyses, ¹H NMR, IR, mass and UV–Vis spectral data. Electrochemical behaviors of Cu (II) phthalocyanine by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry techniques gave two common phthalocyanine ring reductions and one ring oxidation processes. Peak-to-peak separation of the processes II and III (388 mV) and the measure of gap (1.672 V) between the HOMO and LUMO for the complex, fits a phthalocyanine with electrochemically inactive metal center.     

Phthalocyanines prepared from 4-chloro-/4-hexylthio-5-(4-phenyloxyacetic acid)phthalonitriles and functionalization of the related phthalocyanines with hydroxymethylferrocene

The phthalonitrile derivative chosen for the synthesis of substituted phthalocyanines [M: 2H, Zn(II), Co(II)] with four chloro and four phenyloxyacetic acid substituents on the periphery is 4-chloro-5-(4-phenyloxyacetic acid)phthalonitrile. The sodium salt of carboxyl substituted zinc phthalocyanine is good soluble in water. Further reactions of zinc and cobalt phthalocyanines bearing phenyloxyacetic acid with thionylchloride gave the corresponding acylchlorides. This functional group reacted with hydroxymethylferrocene in dry DMF to obtain ferrocenyl substituted phthalocyanines. Also chloro substituent in new phthalonitrile was substituted with hexylsulfanyl substituent and its cyclotetramerization in the presence of Zn(AcO)₂·2H₂O and 2-(dimethylamino)ethanol resulted with zinc phthalocyanine. The compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, MALDI-TOF mass, FT-IR, ¹H NMR, UV-Vis and fluorescence data. Aggregations properties of phthalocyanines were investigated at different concentrations in tetrahydrofuran, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, water, and water/ethanol mixture. Also fluorescence spectral properties are reported.