Novel water-soluble bacteriochlorophyll derivatives for vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy: synthesis, solubility, phototoxicity and the effect of serum proteins

New negatively charged water-soluble bacteriochlorophyll (Bchl) derivatives were developed in our laboratory for vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP). Here we focused on the synthesis, characterization and interaction of the new candidates with serum proteins and particularly on the effect of serum albumin on the photocytotoxicity of WST11, a representative compound of the new derivatives. Using several approaches, we found that aminolysis of the isocyclic ring with negatively charged residues markedly increases the hydrophilicity of the Bchl sensitizers, decreases their self-association constant and selectively increases their affinity to serum albumin, compared with other serum proteins. The photocytotoxicity of the new candidates in endothelial cell culture largely depends on the concentration of the serum albumin. Importantly, after incubation with physiological concentrations of serum albumin (500-600 microM), WST11 was found to be poorly photocytotoxic (>80% endothelial cell survival in cell cultures). However, in a recent publication (Mazor, O. et al. [2005] Photochem. Photobiol. 81, 342-351) we showed that VTP of M2R melanoma xenografts with a similar WST11 concentration resulted in approximately 100% tumor flattening and >70% cure rate. We therefore propose that the two studies collectively suggest that the antitumor activity of WST11 and probably of other similar candidates does not depend on direct photointoxication of individual endothelial cells but on the vascular tissue response to the VTP insult.     

Direct experimental evaluation of charge scheme performance by a molecular charge-meter

The remarkable advances accomplished in the past two decades in theoretical and computational capabilities have made the in silico study of complex chemical systems feasible. However, this progress is in strong contrast to the lag in experimental capabilities relating to the measurement of fundamental chemical quantities within convoluted environments such as solvents or protein milieu. As a result, many works rely extensively on predictions provided by ab initio methodologies without having independent experimental support. Such a proliferation of theory and computational approaches without being substantiated by appropriate experimental data is undesirable. The feasibility of using nickel-bacteriochlorophyll as a molecular potentiometer was recently demonstrated for the systematic evaluation of fragmental charge density transfer for metal complexes in solution, thus providing an experimental assay with high accuracy and sensitivity (better than +/-0.005 e(-); Yerushalmi, R.; Baldridge, K. K.; Scherz, A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 12706-12707). Here the experimentally determined fragmental charge density transfer values measured by the molecular potentiometer for metal complexes in solvent are used to provide, for the first time, an independent and critical experimental evaluation of theoretical approaches commonly used in determining atomic charges and fragmental charge density transfer among interacting molecular systems. Importantly, these findings indicate that the natural population analysis (NPA) charge analysis is highly robust and well-suited for determining charge transfer processes involving donor-acceptor coordination interactions. The majority of computational charge schemes fail to provide an accurate chemical picture for the whole range of systems considered here. In cases where the role of electronic correlation varies significantly among chemically related structures, as with mono- and biligated complexes, the widely used electrostatic potential fit-based methods for evaluating atomic charges may prove to be problematic for predictive studies. In such cases, alternative methods that do not rely on the net dipole moment or other higher multipoles of the system for determining charges should be employed.     

THE PHOTOEXCITED TRIPLET STATE OF TETRAPHENYL CHLORIN, MAGNESIUM TETRAPHENYL PORPHYRIN AND WHOLE CELLS OF CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDI. A LIGHT MODULATION-EPR STUDY

Abstract— The photoexcited triplet states of frozen solutions of tetraphenyl chlorin (TPC), magnesium tetraphenyl porphyrin (MgTPP) and whole cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardi have been studied by light modulation-EPR spectroscopy. The porphyrins were chosen to be studied as model compounds for chlorophyll molecules, From EPR spectra the zero field splitting parameters (ZFS) were calculated. For TPC, |D| = 0.0364 ± 0.0002 cm^-1, |E| = 0.0063 ± 0.0002 cm^-1. For MgTPP, |D| = 0.0310 ± 0.0002 cm^-1. For chloroplasts, |D| = 0.0280 ± 0.0004 cm^-1, |E| = 0.0032 ± 0.0004 cm^-1. In all compounds studied, except MgTPP, electron spin polarization (ESP) was observed. From the analysis of the kinetic curves at each canonical orientation we evaluated the spin lattice relaxation rate W, the depopulation rate constants k_p, and the ratio between the population rate constants, A_p, at zero magnetic field. For TPC in ethanol-toluene (5:1) k_x= (0.70 ± 0.10) × 10³ s^-1, k_y= (0.40 ± 0.07) × 10³ s^-1, k_x= (0.24 ± 0.05) × 10³ s^-1; A_x:A_y:A_z? 1.0:0.6:0.4; W= (2.60 ± 0.40) × 10³ s^-1. For MgTPP, only the total decay rate constant, k_T, was calculated: (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10 s^-1 in n-octane and (4.8 ± 0.8) × 10 s^-1 in ethanol. The results for TPC and MgTPP are compared to those reported previously for chlorophyll. It is concluded that the dynamics of the photoexcited triplet state in chlorophylls are mainly governed by the chlorin macrocycle. From the EPR spectrum and ZFS parameters of chloroplasts, we propose that both chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b are the main constituents of the EPR spectrum. From the analysis of the kinetic curves we obtain separately the kinetic parameters for chlorophylls a and b, k^a_x= (1.30 ± 0.20) × 10³ s^-1, k^a_y;= (0.85 ± 0.15) × 10³ s^-1k^a_x= (0.32 ± 0.05) × 10³ s^-1; A^a_x:A^a_y:A^a_z? 1.0:0.7:0.2; W^a= (1.20 ± 0.20) × 10³ s^-1; k^b_x= (0.56 ± 0.09) × 10³ s^-1, k^b_y= (0.30 ± 0.04) × 10³ s^-1, k^b_z= (0.06 ± 0.01) × 10³ s^-1; A^b_x:A^b_y:A^b_x? 1.0:0.6:0.1; W^b= (5.00 ± 0.80) × 10³ s^-1. These results are very close to those found separately for chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b oligomers in vitro.     

Mn2+ alters peroxidase profiles and lignin degradation by the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus under different nutritional and growth conditions

The white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus produces two types of extracellular peroxidases: manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP) and versatile peroxidase (VP). The effect of Mn²⁺ on fungal growth, peroxidase activity profiles, and lignin degradation by P. ostreatus was studied in liquid culture and under solid-state fermentation conditions on perlite, the latter resembling the natural growth conditions of this fungus. The fungus was grown in either a defined asparagine-containing basidiomycete selective medium (BSM) or in a rich peptone medium (PM). Biomass production, as determined by respiration experiments in solid-state fermentation and liquid cultures and fungal growth on Petri dishes, was higher in the PM than in the BSM. Mn²⁺ affected biomass production only in the PM on Petri dishes. In the nonamended PM, high levels of MnP and VP activity were detected relative to the nonamended BSM. Nevertheless, a higher rate of ¹⁴C-lignin mineralization was measured in the Mn²⁺-amended BSM, as determined during the course of 47 d of fermentation. Mn²⁺ amendment of the PM increased mineralization rate to that obtained in the Mn²⁺-amended BSM. The enzyme activity profiles of MnP and VP were studied in the BSM using anion-exchange chromatography. In the nonamended BSM, only minute levels of MnP and VP were detected. On Mn²⁺ amendment, two MnP isoenzymes (B1 and B2) appeared. Isoenzyme B2 was purified and showed 100% identity with the MnP isoenzyme purified in our previous study from PM-solid-state fermentation (P6). P6 was found to be the dominant isoenzyme in terms of activity level and gene expression compared with the VP isoenzymes. Based on these results, we concluded that Mn²⁺ plays a key role in lignin degradation under different nutritional and growth conditions, since it is required for the production of MnP in P. ostreatus.     

THE EFFECT OF AROMATIC AMINO ACIDS ON THE PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF A DISULFIDE: ENERGY TRANSFER AND REACTION WITH HYDRATED ELECTRONS

Abstract —The decomposition of dithioglycolic acid in oxygen-free solutions illuminated by low-intensity 254 nm light at pH 1.5-4.7 is enhanced by light absorbed in tyrosine. This occurs through an interaction with excited tyrosine, leading to the formation of excited dithioglycolic acid. At pH 6-1 an additional pathway appears, through the formation of a hydrated electron from excited tyrosine.
In the presence of tryptophan at pH 1 -2–6-1 the pathway involving sensitized formation of excited dithioglycolic acid is much less important, and that due to hydrated-electron (or H ) formation from excited tryptophan of greater importance.     

Control of redox transitions and oxygen species binding in Mn centers by biologically significant ligands; model studies with [Mn]-bacteriochlorophyll a

Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), which protects the cell from the toxic potential of superoxide radicals (O(2)(-*)), is the only type of SOD which resides in eukaryotic mitochondria. Up-to-date, the exact catalytic mechanism of the enzyme and the relationship between substrate moieties and the ligands within the active site microenvironment are still not resolved. Here, we set out to explore the possible involvement of hydroperoxyl radicals ((*)OOH) in the catalytic dismutaion by following the interplay of Mn(III)/Mn(II) redox transitions, ligands binding, and evolution or consumption of superoxide radical, using a new model system. The model system encompassed an Mn atom chelated by a bacteriochlorophyll allomer macrocycle (BChl) in aerated aprotic media that contain residual water. The redox states of the Mn ion were monitored by the Q(y) electronic transitions at 774 and 825 nm for [Mn(II)]- and [Mn(III)]-BChl, respectively (Geskes, C.; Hartwich, G.; Scheer, H.; Mantele, W.; Heinze, J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 7776) and confirmed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Evolution of (*)OOH radicals was monitored by the ESR spin-trap technique using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). The experimental data suggest that the [Mn]-BChl forms a (HO(-))[Mn(III)]-BChl(OOH) complex upon solvation. Spectrophotometeric titrations with tetrabutylamonnium acetate (TBAA) and 1-methylimidazole (1-MeIm) together with ESI-MS measurements indicated the formation of a 1:1 complex with [Mn]-BChl for both ligands. The coordination of ligands at low concentrations to [Mn(III)]-BChl induced a release of a (*)OOH radical and a [Mn(III)]-BChl --> [Mn(II)]-BChl transition at higher concentrations. The estimated equilibrium constants for the total redox reaction ( )()are 1.9 x 10(4) +/- 1 x 10(3) M(-)(1) and 12.3 +/- 0.6 M(-)(1) for TBAA and 1-MeIm, respectively. The profound difference between the equilibrium constants agrees with the suggested key role of the ligand's basicity in the process. A direct interaction of superoxide radicals with [Mn(III)]-BChl in a KO(2) acetonitrile (AN) solution also resulted in [Mn(III)]-BChl --> [Mn(II)]-BChl transition. Cumulatively, our data show that the Mn(III) center encourages the protonation of the O(2)(-)(*) radical in an aprotic environment containing residual water molecules, while promoting its oxidation in the presence of basic ligands. Similar coordination and stabilization of the (*)OOH radical by the Mn center may be key steps in the enzymatic dismutation of superoxide radicals by Mn-SOD.     

Preclinical studies in normal canine prostate of a novel palladium-bacteriopheophorbide (WST09) photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy of prostate cancers

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses light to activate a photosensitizer to achieve localized tumor control. In this study, PDT mediated by a second-generation photosensitizer, palladium-bacteriopheophorbide WST09 (Tookad) was investigated as an alternative therapy for prostate cancer. Normal canine prostate was used as the animal model. PDT was performed by irradiating the surgically exposed prostate superficially or interstitially at 763 nm to different total fluences (100 or 200 J/cm2; 50, 100 or 200 J/cm) at 5 or 15 min after intravenous administration of the drug (2 mg/kg). Areas on the bladder and colon were also irradiated. The local light fluence rate and temperature were monitored by interstitial probes in the prostate. All animals recovered well, without urethral complications. During the 1 week to 3 month post-treatment period, the prostates were harvested for histopathological examination. The PDT-induced lesions showed uniform hemorrhagic necrosis and atrophy, were well delineated from the adjacent normal tissue and increased linearly in diameter with the logarithm of the delivered light fluence. A maximum PDT-induced lesion size of over 3 cm diameter could be achieved with a single interstitial treatment. There was no damage to the bladder or rectum caused by scattered light from the prostate. The bladder and rectum were also directly irradiated with PDT. At 80 J/cm2, a full-depth necrosis was observed but resulted in no perforation. At 40 J/cm2, PDT produced minimal damage to the bladder or rectum. On the basis of optical dosimetry, we have estimated that 20 J/cm2 is the fluence required to produce prostatic necrosis. Thus, the normal structure adjacent to the prostate can be safely preserved with careful dosimetry. At therapeutic PDT levels, there was no structural or functional urethral damage even when the urethra was within the treated region. Hence, Tookad-PDT appears to be a promising candidate for prostate ablation in patients with recurrent, or possibly even primary, prostate cancer.     

Uniform approach to bacteriochlorophyll-based monolayers on conducting, semiconducting, and insulating substrates

A general approach is demonstrated for the formation of monolayers comprised of free-base and metalated Bacteriochlorophyll-based derivatives providing a new vehicle for studying photosynthetic motifs and chromophore thin-film interactions. Accessibility to covalent and self-assembled systems on conducting, semiconducting, and insulating substrates is realized utilizing identical molecular building blocks. The monolayers retain the optical features typical for the new systems in solution. Molecular organization of chromophore interaction motifs can be sequentially designed using preassembled building blocks in solution and expressed in the thin film optical properties. For instance, intramolecular pi-pi stacking is conserved for the dimeric Ni-based chromophores as deduced from the spectroscopic measurements of the monolayers and in solution.