Photophysical investigation of neutral and diprotonated free-base bis(arylethynyl)porphyrins

The photophysical properties for a series of free-base arylethynyl porphyrins and the corresponding trans-disubstituted tetraphenylporphyrin (H(2)TPP) derivatives lacking arylethynyl functionalities have been studied via electronic absorption and emission spectroscopy in both neutral and diacid forms. Enhanced substituent effects on porphyrin absorption spectra are observed in the arylethynyl porphyrins relative to the H(2)TPP derivatives, owing to the presence of the ethynyl spacer that allows for a coplanar geometry between the porphyrin macrocycle and the appended phenyl substituents. Upon protonation, both series of porphyrins exhibit substantially red shifted absorption and emission spectra and enhanced oscillator strengths, with the magnitude of the spectral shifts being more substantial in the presence of the ethynyl functionalities. Spectral features of the arylethynyl porphyrin bearing p-dimethylamino substituents closely resemble those previously classified as "hyperporphyrin spectra" and are indicative of excited-state charge-transfer character. Protonation of both series of porphyrins results in reduced fluorescence lifetimes and enhanced nonradiative decay rates, and the impact of protonation on these parameters is attenuated in the presence of the arylethynyl functionalities. Our results coupled with previous structural data showing that arylethynyl porphyrins exhibit less structural distortion upon diacid formation relative to H(2)TPP further substantiate the proposal that significant alteration of porphyrin photophysical properties upon diacid formation can be attributed to nonplanar structural distortions induced by protonation.     

In Vitro Photodynamic Activity of 5,15-bis(3-Hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin and Its Halogenated Derivatives Against Cancer Cells

5,15-Diarylporphyrins ( 1-5 ) with hydroxyl groups and halogens as substituents were prepared by condensation between unsubstituted dipyrromethane and halogenated m -hydroxybenzaldehydes. Photophysical properties show that the nonhalogenated porphyrin 1 has higher fluorescence yield but lower singlet oxygen formation quantum yield than the halogenated derivatives due to the heavy atom effect. The in vitro activity of these derivatives was tested against WiDr colorectal adenocarcinoma and A375 melanoma cancer cells. All porphyrins present a much higher phototoxicity than Photofrin^® with IC ₅₀ values lower than the 50 n m level for WiDr cells and 25 n m level for A375 cancer cells. The most photoactive compound is the nonhalogenated porphyrin 1 which also presents the highest uptake. Halogenated derivatives present much lower uptakes than 1 . However, their photoactivity is similar to compound 1 showing that their intrinsic photoactivity (ISP) is very high. Iodinated compound 4 presents the highest ISP. The greater ability of these porphyrins to destroy cancer cells could be related to their photophysical and photochemical properties.     

Pentacene‐Fused Diporphyrins

In this work, we report the synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, and theoretical analysis of a linearly conjugated pentacene‐fused porphyrin dimer and cross‐conjugated quinone‐fused dinaphtho[2,3]porphyrins. These multichromophoric systems display non‐typical UV‐visible absorptions of either porphyrins or pentacenes/quinones. UV‐visible, emission and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy suggest strong electronic interactions among the multichromophores in the system. DFT calculations revealed the delocalization of the HOMOs and LUMOs spanning the entire dimer and linker assembly. The pentacene‐fused porphyrin dimer is significantly more stable than both the corresponding pentacene and the heptacene derivatives. The availability of these huge π‐extended and electronically highly interactive multichromophoric systems promises unprecedented electronic and photophysical properties.     

Porphyrin light-harvesting arrays constructed in the recombinant tobacco mosaic virus scaffold

We have demonstrated the construction of multiple porphyrin arrays in the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) supramolecular structures by self-assembly of recombinant TMV coat protein (TMVCP) monomers, in which Zn-coordinated porphyrin (ZnP) and free-base porphyrin (FbP) were site-selectively incorporated. The photophysical properties of porphyrin moieties incorporated in the TMV assemblies were also characterized. TMV-porphyrin conjugates employed as building blocks self-assembled into unique disk and rod structures under the proper conditions as similar to native TMV assemblies. The mixture of a ZnP donor and an FbP acceptor was packed in the TMV assembly and showed energy transfer and light-harvesting activity. The detailed photophysical properties of the arrayed porphyrins in the TMV assemblies were examined by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, and the energy transfer rates were determined to be 3.1-6.4x10(9) s(-1). The results indicate that the porphyrins are placed at the expected positions in the TMV assemblies.     

卟啉衍生物的合成与性能研究进展

卟啉化学是有机化学研究中不可或缺的一个方向。由于卟啉在结构上具有一个大的共轭体系,从而具有典型的芳香性。其具有优异的光电性能、独特的光动力治疗作用、高效的催化活性,并且广泛存在于血红素、叶绿素、维生素B_(12)、过氧化氢酶等有机生物分子中,所有这一切都吸引着科学家们进行深入研究。本文从取代卟啉、缩合卟啉以及扩环卟啉三个方面分别讨论了卟啉的研究进展,通过列举一系列经典的反应以及卟啉衍生物,总结了卟啉衍生物的合成方法及其发展方向。另外,文中还对于卟啉的一些特殊物理、化学和光电性质,做了重点介绍。本文旨在为卟啉的研究者们提供参考。     

Cationic porphyrins with inverted pyridinium groups and their fluorescence properties

One of the applications of cationic porphyrins is their use in microbial photodynamic inactivation (PDI). For this purpose there is a constant quest for new cationic photoactive derivatives. In this work, we synthesized and fully characterized a new porphyrin 3a and the corresponding cationic derivative 3b. The results presented here show that meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (TPPF₂₀, 1) can be used as scaffold to prepare different soluble compounds with interesting photophysical properties.     

Photo-CIDNP evidence for charge-transfer interaction between synthetic water-soluble porphyrins and guanine

Abstract Photoreactions of aqueous solutions of synthetic water-soluble porphyrins were studied by the ¹H and ¹³C CIDNP technique. Strong polarizations, which were very sensitive to the presence of added acid, were observed on the cationic porphyrins (TMePyPH₂-TAPPH₂) when irradiated through continuous UV-visible light. They resulted from the reverse electron transfer between the semi-oxidized and the semi-reduced species of the derivative. When the experiments were carried out in the presence of nucleobases, guanine (and its derivatives) was the only residue that was polarized. This is thoroughly interpreted in terms of a reversible electron transfer reaction leading to guanine photooxidation by the porphyrin excited triplet state. It was shown to be drastically pH-dependent and was correlated to the redox potential of the porphyrin. It was not affected by the incident wavelength. The reaction proceeded through the intermediate formation of the correlated radical-ion pair: porphyrin radical anion-guanine radical cation. This study suggested that a Type I (free radical) reaction could be one of the primary processes in DNA photosensitization by porphyrins.     

THE EFFECTS OF PORPHYRIN STRUCTURE AND AGGREGATION STATE ON PHOTOSENSITIZED PROCESSES IN AQUEOUS AND MICELLAR MEDIA

The efficiency of several porphyrins at 10 μM and 83 μM as sensitizers of the photooxidation of 0.1 mM tryptophan and histidine via a singlet oxygen-mechanism was studied in pH 7.4-buffered aqueous solutions and in aqueous dispersions of Triton X-100 micelles. The porphyrins were either solubilized in the bulk aqueous medium or associated with the micellar phase, whereas the amino acids were always located in the aqueous phase. With those porphyrins, such as uroporphyrin I, meso-tetra (4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine, meso-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphine and meso-tetra)N,N,N-trimethylanilinium)porphine, which are > 98% monomeric in both media, the efficiency of histidine photooxidation was independent of the site of O₂(¹Δ_g) generation, as shown by the closely similar values for the photooxidation rate constant and oxygen-consumption quantum yield in the presence and absence of Triton micelles; the same indications were provided by photokinetic experiments with tryptophan. Actually, laser flash photolysis studies showed that the micelle-incorporation of the above mentioned porphyrins brought about only minor changes in their photophysical properties, including the relative yield of O₂(¹Δ_g) generation. On the other hand, hematoporphyrin IX, its Zn²⁺-complex, and coproporphyrin III are largely aggregated in homogeneous aqueous solution; their incorporation into Triton micelles caused an increase of the triplet quantum yield and an enhancement of the oxygen-consumption quantum yield and photooxidation rate constant for both histidine and tryptophan. The lower photosensitizing efficiency of aggregated porphyrin species in comparison with the corresponding monomeric porphyrin was confirmed by measuring the initial rate and quantum yield of oxygen consumption upon irradiation of 1 mM histidine and tryptophan in the presence of different hematoporphyrin concentrations within the 0.3-100μM range.     

Structure and photophysical properties of porphyrin-modified metal nanoclusters with different chain lengths

Three-dimensional porphyrin-monolayer-protected gold clusters with different chain lengths (MPCs) have been prepared to examine the structure and photophysical properties, in comparison with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of the porphyrins on a flat gold surface. The three-dimensional porphyrin MPCs exhibit electrochemical and photophysical properties that are much closer to those of a porphyrin reference compound in solution than those of two-dimensional porphyrin SAMs on the flat gold surface. The three-dimensional architectures of porphyrin MPCs with large surface area have improved the light-harvesting efficiency relative to the corresponding porphyrin SAM on the two-dimensional flat gold surface. Time-resolved single photon counting fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopic studies have demonstrated that undesirable quenching of the porphyrin excited singlet state via energy transfer to the gold surface of the three-dimensional MPCs is much suppressed, as compared to the quenching of the porphyrin SAMs on the two-dimensional flat gold surface. Both the quenching rate constants of the porphyrin excited singlet state by the surfaces of bulk gold and gold nanoclusters reveal weak chain length dependence of the energy transfer quenching.     

CLEARANCE TIMES OF PORPHYRIN DERIVATIVES FROM MICE AS MEASURED BY in vivo FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY

The clearance times of 17 different porphyrin derivatives from SKH:HR-1 mice have been measured using the technique of in vivo fluorescence spectroscopy. This technique monitors the in vivo porphyrin fluorescence observed from the external skin surface. Most hydrophilic porphyrin derivatives show relatively short clearance times, in the order of 2.5-6 h. The dicarboxylic acid porphyrins, proto-, hydroxyethylvinyldeutero- and hematoporphyrin IX have clearance times of 7.8, 12.2 and 14.7 h respectively. The mixture hematoporphyrin derivative has an intermediate clearance time of 12.6 h. N-methylated porphyrins show clearance times in the vicinity of 15-22 h. Monoaspartyl chlorin e6 shows the longest clearance time of all porphyrin derivatives measured (30.3 h).     

CLEARANCE TIMES OF PORPHYRIN DERIVATIVES FROM MICE AS MEASURED BY in vivo FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY

Abstract
The clearance times of 17 different porphyrin derivatives from SKH:HR-1 mice have been measured using the technique of in vivo fluorescence spectroscopy. This technique monitors the in vivo porphyrin fluorescence observed from the external skin surface. Most hydrophilic porphyrin derivatives show relatively short clearance times, in the order of 2.5–6 h. The dicarboxylic acid porphyrins, proto-, hydroxyethylvinyldeutero-and hematoporphyrin IX have clearance times of 7.8, 12.2 and 14.7 h respectively. The mixture hematoporphyrin derivative has an intermediate clearance time of 12.6 h. N -methylated porphyrins show clearance times in the vicinity of 15–22 h. Monoaspartyl chlorin e₆ shows the longest clearance time of all porphyrin derivatives measured (30.3 h).     

Amino Acid–Porphyrin Conjugates: Synthesis and Study of their Photophysical and Metal Ion Recognition Properties

Synthesis, photophysical and metal ion recognition properties of a series of amino acid‐linked free‐base and Zn‐porphyrin derivatives (5–9) are reported. These porphyrin derivatives showed favorable photophysical properties including high molar extinction coefficients (>1 × 10⁵ m ^?1 cm^?1 for the Soret band), quantum yields of triplet excited states (63–94%) and singlet oxygen generation efficiencies (59–91%). Particularly, the Zn‐porphyrin derivatives, 6 and 9 showed higher molar extinction coefficients, decreased fluorescence quantum yields, and higher triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields compared to the corresponding free‐base porphyrin derivatives. Further, the study of their interactions with various metal ions indicated that the proline‐conjugated Zn‐porphyrins (6 and 9) showed high selectivity toward Cu²⁺ ions and signaled the recognition through changes in fluorescence intensity. Our results provide insights on the role of nature of amino acid and metallation in the design of the porphyrin systems for application as probes and sensitizers.     

Novel porphyrin conjugates with a potent photodynamic antitumor effect: differential efficacy of mono- and bis-beta-cyclodextrin derivatives in vitro and in vivo

In the present study we investigated the photosensitizing properties of two novel mono- and bis-cyclodextrin tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl) porphyrin derivatives in several tumor cell lines and in BALB/c mice bearing subcutaneously transplanted syngeneic mouse mammary carcinoma 4T1. Both studied sensitizers were localized mainly in lysosomes and were found to induce cell death by triggering apoptosis in human leukemic cells HL-60. In 4T1 and other cell lines both apoptotic and necrotic modes of cell death occurred depending on drug and light doses. Mono-cyclodextrin porphyrin derivative P(beta-CD)1 exhibited stronger in vitro phototoxic effect than bis-cyclodextrin derivative P(beta-CD)2. However, in vivo P(beta-CD)2 displayed faster tumor uptake with maximal accumulation 6 h after application, leading to complete and prolonged elimination of subcutaneous tumors within 3 days after irradiation (100 J cm(-2)). In contrast, P(beta-CD)1 uptake was slower (48 h) and the reduction of tumor mass was only transient, reaching the maximum at the 12 h interval when a favorable tumor-to-skin ratio appeared. Thus, P(beta-CD)2 represents a new photosensitizing drug displaying fast and selective tumor uptake, strong antitumor activity and fast elimination from the body.     

Antimicrobial Photodynamic Efficiency of Novel Cationic Porphyrins towards Periodontal Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative Pathogenic Bacteria

The Gram‐negative Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Fusobacterium nucleatum are major causative agents of aggressive periodontal disease. Due to increase in the number of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria, antimicrobial Photodynamic therapy (aPDT) seems to be a plausible alternative. In this work, photosensitization was performed on Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria in pure culture using new‐age cationic porphyrins, namely mesoimidazolium‐substituted porphyrin derivative ( ImP ) and pyridinium‐substituted porphyrin derivative ( PyP ). The photophysical properties of both the sensitizers including absorption, fluorescence emission, quantum yields of the triplet excited states and singlet oxygen generation efficiencies were evaluated in the context of aPDT application. The studied porphyrins exhibited high ability to accumulate into bacterial cells with complete penetration into early stage biofilms. As compared with ImP, PyP was found to be more effective for photoinactivation of bacterial strains associated with periodontitis, without any signs of dark toxicity, owing to its high photocytotoxicity.     

Combinatorial synthesis and characterization of new asymmetric porphyrins as potential photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy

Porphyrins play a major role as active photosensitizers in noninvasive optical photodynamic therapy (PDT). In a modular approach, this paper presents a short review of the recent developments of porphyrin structures and materials with improved photosensitizing properties and then presents the synthesis and characterization of a series of new second generation asymmetrical meso-tetraphenylporphyrins varied by substituent in the meta positions of the phenyl rings with either -OH or -OCH3 groups, whereas in the para positions only with -OCH3 groups. The new series of differentially functionalized porphyrins were obtained by a combinatorial multicomponent synthesis (Adler-Longo method) by simultaneously using two different aldehydes: 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde and 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde. The porphyrins were isolated, purified and characterized by HPLC, TLC, UV-vis, fluorescence, MS, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR analysis, accompanied by DEPT 135 experiments. Because of the fact that the medium in cancerous tissues is often more acidic than in normal tissues, the capacity of these porphyrins to exist simultaneously in aggregated and protonated forms was also investigated, in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and acid THF-water systems, underlying the changes in the photophysical behaviour. The relative fluorescence quantum yields (Phif) were calculated in comparison with meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP), and the values between 0.14-0.26 were found to be promising for further trials. The series of asymmetrically substituted tetraphenylporphyrins, as the new class of supramolecular materials, are suitable for further functionalization in order to improve their photophysical properties, and they could represent interesting potential PDT photosensitizers.     

CHLORIN AND PORPHYRIN DERIVATIVES AS POTENTIAL PHOTOSENSITIZERS IN PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

In order to find a photosensitizer with better optical properties and pharmacokinetics than Photofrin II, a series of new photosensitizers related to methyl pheophorbide-a and chlorin-e6 were synthesized. These compounds absorb at substantially longer wavelengths (lambda max 660 nm) than does Photofrin II (630 nm) and show promise for use in photodynamic therapy. Among the porphyrins, we observed that long carbon chain ether derivatives are better photosensitizers than their ester analogs. These sensitizers were tested for in vivo photosensitizing activity vis-a-vis Photofrin II, using the standard screening system of DBA/2 mice bearing transplanted SMT/F tumors. Most of these photosensitizers were found to have better tumoricidal photosensitizing activity than Photofrin II and demonstrated more rapid attenuation of normal tissue photosensitivity with time after administration vis-a-vis Photofrin II.     

Photophysics and Intracellular Distribution of a Boronated Porphyrin Phototherapeutic Agent

Abstract— The absorption and emission spectra, fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes and triplet state properties of a boronated porphyrin, the tetrakiscarborane carboxylate ester of 2,4-(α,β-dihydroxyethyl) deuteroporphyrin IX (BOPP), have been determined. This compound is an alternative photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent that exhibits highly selective tumor localization, with the potential to be used in conjunction with boron neutron capture therapy. The photophysical characteristics of BOPP are similar to other porphyrins and it exhibits marked aggregation and acid-base speciation under typical physiological conditions. In particular, protonation of the porphyrin imino (-N=) nitrogens occurs in the pH 5–7 region and influences the photophysical properties. Time-resolved confocal fluorescence imaging of the intracellular distribution of BOPP in C6 glioma cells indicates distinct subcellular localization and heterogeneity of emission. The results are interpreted and discussed in terms of the possible mechanisms for cellular uptake and localization.     

In vitro EVALUATION OF PHOTOTOXIC PROPERTIES OF FOUR STRUCTURALLY RELATED BENZOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVES

Four structural analogs of benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD) have been studied and compared for photosensitizing activity in vitro. All analogs have an identical reduced tetrapyrrol porphyrin ring, and differ by the position of a cyclohexadiene ring (fused at either ring A or ring B of the porphyrin) and the presence of either two acid groups or one acid and one ester group at rings C and D of the porphyrin. Photosensitizer activity was tested with the M1 tumor cell line using an assay (the MTT assay) which detects mitochondrial hydrogenases as a measure of cell viability. This assay was shown to be equivalent to the standard clonogenicity or [3H]thymidine uptake assay. Comparative studies with the BPD analogs showed that the monoacid derivatives had equivalent cytotoxicity and were about five-fold more active than the diacid forms. This was the case whether the assays were performed in the presence or absence of fetal calf serum.     

Silylation Improves the Photodynamic Activity of Tetraphenylporphyrin Derivatives In Vitro and In Vivo

The effects of silyl and hydrophilic groups on the photodynamic properties of tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) derivatives have been studied in vitro and in vivo. Silylation led to an improvement in the quantum yield of singlet oxygen sensitization for both sulfo and carboxy derivatives, although the silylation did not affect other photophysical properties. Silylation also improved the cellular uptake efficiency for both sulfo and carboxy derivatives, enhancing the in vitro photodynamic activity of the photosensitizer in U251 human glioma cells. The carboxy derivative (SiTPPC₄) was found to show higher cellular uptake efficiency and in vitro photodynamic activity than the corresponding sulfo derivative (SiTPPS₄), which indicates that the carboxy group is a more promising hydrophilic group than the sulfo group in the silylated porphyrin. SiTPPC₄ was found to show high selective accumulation efficiency in tumors, although almost no tumor selectivity was observed for the nonsilylated porphyrin. The concentration of SiTPPC₄ in tumors was 13 times higher than that in muscle 12 h after drug administration. We also studied tumor response after treatment and found that silylation enhanced in vivo photodynamic activity significantly. SiTPPC₄ shows higher photodynamic activity than NPe6 with white light irradiation.     

Properties of polyethylene glycol supported tetraarylporphyrin in aqueous solution and its interaction with liposomal membranes

5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin was functionalized by covalent attachment of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains of various molecular weights, 350, 2000, and 5000 Da. The properties of PEG-functionalized tetraarylporphyrins in aqueous solution and their interactions with liposomes have been studied. Electronic absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, and fluorescence quenching were used to monitor aggregation of porphyrin chromophores and behavior of the attached PEG chains in the aqueous solution. The tendency for aggregation of porphyrin chromophores in aqueous solution and the efficiency of fluorescence quenching by KI decrease with increasing length of PEG chain linked to the porphyrin ring. The experimental results indicate that polymer clusters are present in aqueous solution of all pegylated porphyrins. The interactions between the pegylated porphyrins and phosphatidylcholine liposomes in the aqueous solution were studied using the fluorescence methods. The apparent binding constants of porphyrin chromophores to liposomes were determined. The degree of binding was found to be dependent on the molecular weight of the attached polymer.