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.     

A COMPARISON OF THREE PHOTOSENSITIZERS WITH RESPECT TO EFFICIENCY OF CELL IN ACTIVATION, FLUORESCENCE QUANTUM YIELD AND DNA STRAND BREAKS

Intracellular properties of three photosensitizers relevant to photodynamic cancer therapy were compared using cultured human NHIK 3025 cells. When taken up in the cells, the hydrophilic photosensitizer aluminum phthalocyanine tetra sulfonate required about 10 times more quanta of light absorbed per cell to kill 90% of the cells than did the hydrophobic dyes Photofrin II and tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin. In spite of this, the phthalocyanine molecule was the most efficient dye per quantum of excitation light, since the extinction coefficient of the phthalocyanine is more than 10 times higher than that of the two hydrophobic photosensitizers at therapeutic wavelengths. The two hydrophobic dyes had significantly higher fluorescence quantum yields when taken up by cells than when bound to human plasma or human serum albumin, whereas the opposite was true for the hydrophilic phthalocyanine dye--suggesting intracellular aggregation. Finally, the potential genetic toxicities of the drugs in the form of DNA strand breaks were compared. The aluminum phthalocyanine tetra sulfonate photosensitized more DNA strand breaks than did Photofrin II and tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin when compared at the same level of cell survival.     

LOCALIZATION OF MONO-L-ASPARTYL CHLORIN e6 (NPe6) IN MOUSE TISSUES

Abstract It is known that HpD is retained longer by malignant tissue than normal tissue and is therefore a useful material for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Currently, vigorous research is being conducted throughout the world to discover a new material which can have greater cancer cell affinity than hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) and will be used effectively for PDT. Investigation has been conducted to determine the spectral characteristics and cancer cell affinity of NPe6, a recently developed material.
Structurally, a double bond on the D-ring of the porphyrin ring of mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 (NPe6) has been reduced, thereby changing its spectral properties from that of HpD. This difference accounts for the stronger absorption bands in wavelengths longer than those of HpD. Furthermore, NPe6 in tumor showed stronger absorption at 660 nm than HpD. Absorption by hemoglobin (Hb) in the blood occurs at wavelengths in the range 500-600 nm, thereby lowering light transmittance. A compound which has a strong absorption band at wavelengths longer than 600 nm and consequently is not affected by Hb will naturally be activated by light at a greater depth in tissue than compounds which do not share this characteristic. The localization of NPe6 in sarcoma and various internal organs was examined with an endoscopic spectrophotometer using an excimer dye laser. After 72 h i.v. NPe6 injection, the results indicate that NPe6 has 10 times greater uptake in malignant tissue cells than in normal organs. Based on the above observations, it was concluded that NPe6 could be effective for PDT if toxicity is low and that this compound has a high malignant tissue affinity.     

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.     

Photodynamic therapy based on organic small molecular fluorescent dyes

This review aims to provide a summary of the progress in organic small molecular fluorescent dyes for photodynamic therapy in recent years and it is classified according to the structures of dyes including cyanines, phthalocyanine, BODIPYs and other agents.     

Photodynamic therapy based on organic small molecular fluorescent dyes

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has shown promise as an effective treatment modality for cancer and other localized diseases due to its noninvasive properties and spatiotemporal selectivity. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dyes based on organic small molecules are characterized with low cytotoxicity, good biocompatibility and excellent phototoxicity, which are widely used in PDT. In this review, we attempt to summarize the development of imaging-induced PDT based on organic small molecules and classify it according to the structures of dyes including cyanines, 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) analogues, phthalocyanine and other agents such as rhodamine analogues.     

Computational design of chlorin based photosensitizers with enhanced absorption properties

The porphyrin and chlorin parent compounds constitute the base of many potent photosensitizers aimed to be utilized in photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, the photosensitizers available on the market today are not ideal for use in PDT; many of them suffering from drawbacks such as long-lasting photosensitization or absorption at wavelengths below the optimal tissue penetration. This has emphasized the need of new photosensitizers with improved photodynamic properties. In the present study we have used density functional theory based methods to design new chlorin compounds with conjugated substituents such as vinyl groups and carboxylic acids, aiming for strong absorption in the therapeutic window of PDT. The specific substituent positions were found to have a significant effect on the spectra. A chlorin with four propenoic acids was able to red-shift the absorption the most compared with non-substituted chlorin, generating the red-most absorption at 755 nm, and with significantly enhanced oscillator strengths. The results from the present study constitute a useful starting point for further design of tetrapyrrole derivatives as improved photosensitizers.     

Ionically Self-Assembled, Multi-Luminophore One-Dimensional Micro- and Nanoscale Aggregates of Thiacarbocyanine GUMBOS

Groups of uniform materials based on organic salts (GUMBOS), derived from thiacarbocyanine (TC)-based dyes with increasing methyne chain lengths, were prepared through a single-step metathesis reaction between the iodide form of the TC dye and lithium bis(perfluoroethylsulfonyl)imide as the lipophilic anion source. Ionic self-assembly of these fluorescent hydrophobic GUMBOS resulted in aqueous dispersions of one-dimensional micro-and nano-scale molecular aggregates. Blended binary and ternary aggregates containing multiple TC GUMBOS were also prepared. These nanostructures exhibited a variety of aspect ratios, affording tunable F?rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and aggregation-dependent spectroscopic properties.     

THE EFFECTS OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY USING DIFFERENTLY SUBSTITUTED ZINC PHTHALOCYANINES ON VESSEL CONSTRICTION, VESSEL LEAKAGE AND TUMOR RESPONSE

Abstract— The effects of four different zinc phthalocyanines were studied during and after photodynamic therapy (PDT). Measurements of vessel constriction, vessel leakage, tumor interstitial pressure, eicosanoid release, and tumor response of chondrosarcoma were made in Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were injected intravenously with 1 μmol/ kg of mono-, di-, or tetrasulfonated zinc phthalocyanine, or 1 μmol/kg of a zinc phthalocyanine substituted with four tertiary butyl groups. Tissues were exposed to 400 J/cm² 670 nm light 24 h after photosensitizer injection. An additional group of animals was given indomethacin before treatment. The use of the monosulfonated and tertiary butyl substituted zinc phthalocyanines in PDT caused the release of specific eicosanoids, caused vessel constriction, and induced venule leakage and increases in tumor interstitial pressure. Tumor cures of 27% and 7% were observed. Photodynamic therapy using the disulfonated zinc phthalocyanine did not induce vessel constriction or the release ofeicosanoids, however; tumor cure was 43%. The use of thc tetrasulfonated zinc phthalocyanine caused intermediate effects between the mono- and disulfonated compounds. The administration of indornethacin to animals completely inhibited the effects of PDT using the monosulfonated compound but had minimal effects on treatment using the disulfonated compound. This suggests that the monosulfonated and disulfonated compounds act by different mechanisms of destruction.     

Photophysical characterization of imidazolium-substituted Pd(II), In(III), and Zn(II) porphyrins as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy

The photophysical properties of four imidazolium-substituted metalloporphyrins have been assessed to gain insights into the relative efficacy of the compounds for photodynamic therapy (PDT). A set of zinc(II), palladium(II), and chloro-indium(III) porphyrins all bear a net positive charge owing to the diethylimidazolium unit; one zinc chelate bears a negative charge owing to a bis(sulfobutyl)imidazolium unit. The photophysical properties of the cationic and anionic zinc porphyrins are very similar to one another in organic solvents, phosphate-buffered saline, and in the presence of bovine serum albumin. The properties of the zinc and palladium porphyrins bearing charged peripheral groups are generally similar to those of neutral analogs in organic solvents. The palladium porphyrin shows an essentially quantitative yield (≥0.99) of the triplet excited state compared to the zinc porphyrins (0.9), and all are quantitatively quenched (at the diffusion limit) by molecular oxygen in air-saturated fluid solution. If the rate constant and yield of quenching of the triplet excited state by energy or electron transfer to molecular oxygen is the same in the cellular environment as in solution, then these processes combined with the triplet yield contribute only a factor of 1.3 to the higher PDT activity of analogous palladium versus zinc porphyrins, which is much smaller than what is observed. Therefore, other factors such as transient reduction of the excited porphyrin or delivery to the target site must predominantly underlie the difference in PDT efficacy of these sensitizers.     

(Metallo)porphyrins as Potent Phototoxic Anti‐Cancer Agents after Irradiation with Red Light

Novel photoactive (metallo)porphyrins were synthesised and characterised. When irradiated with light at a wavelength greater than 600 nm, these porphyrins act as photosensitisers and show high cytotoxicity towards two different human cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values down to 0.4 μM . A paramagnetic copper(II) porphyrin is the first photosensitiser to display excellent phototoxicity, explained by the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping of hydroxy radicals and experimentally confirmed by the discovery of elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside A2780 cells after irradiation with red light. This finding indicates that paramagnetic compounds should be considered for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Furthermore, an additive effect of cisplatin and a zinc porphyrin, both at subtherapeutic concentrations of 0.22 μm, was observed.     

INACTIVATION AND MUTAGENESIS OF Herpes VIRUS BY PHOTODYNAMIC TREATMENT WITH THERAPEUTIC DYES

Dyes which photosensitize membranes may be clinically useful for photodynamic treatment (PDT) of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections. It is important to determine whether the enveloped HSV can be inactivated via membrane damage without affecting the genetic material. Selection of appropriate PDT conditions, including the choice of dye, could minimize viral mutagenesis. We determined the mutagenesis caused by PDT employing three membrane-photosensitizing dyes of potential use in cancer photochemotherapy (Photofrin II, polyhematoporphyrin esters, zinc phthalocyanine tetrasulfonates) and a DNA-photosensitizing dye (proflavine sulfate). The effects were compared to those caused by exposure of HSV to ultraviolet radiation (UV). The procedure consisted of incubating HSV with microgram/ml (microM) concentrations of the dye, irradiating the samples with broad spectrum visible/near-UV radiation (Daylight fluorescent lamps) and assaying the survival of the treated HSV. Zinc phthalocyanine was the most potent dye per absorbed photon for inactivating HSV. In parallel with determination of survival, progeny of the surviving virus were grown for determination of mutagenesis. The progeny virus was harvested and subsequently assayed in the presence and absence of 40 micrograms/ml iododeoxycytidine (ICrd) to determine the frequency of mutation to ICrd resistance. Mutation frequencies were determined for progeny from the 1-4% survival level. For PDT with each membrane-photosensitizing dye, only zinc phthalocyanine increased the mutation frequency over the untreated control. This increase was less than 2-fold. Proflavine increased the mutation frequency 2-3 fold over the untreated control. Ultraviolet produced a 15-20 fold increase over the untreated control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Porphyrins for dye-sensitised solar cells: new insights into efficiency-determining electron transfer steps

Porphyrin molecules offer immense potential as the light harvesting component of dye-sensitised nanocrystalline TiO(2) solar cells. Synthetic porphyrin dyes were amongst the first dyes trialled for sensitisation of inorganic semiconducting oxides. Today, they exhibit the best performance reported for dye-sensitised solar cells. Accompanying the significant performance improvement over the last two decades is a much improved understanding of efficiency-determining fundamental electron transfer steps, from charge photogeneration to recombination. In this feature article we highlight our recent discoveries of the influence of porphyrin molecule structure on efficiency determining electron transfer kinetics and device performance by systematically changing the molecular structure and observing electron injection and recombination kinetics using time-resolved optical and electrical probes. Despite our observation of ultrafast charge injection for all porphyrin dyes studied by transient absorption spectroscopy, the injection yield estimated using an internal standard remains below 100% and depends strongly on the molecular structure. The observed discrepancy between kinetic competition and the injection yield is attributed to non-injecting dyes, probably arising due to inhomogeneity. A very interesting sub-ns (0.5 ns to 100 ns) charge recombination channel between photo-injected electrons and porphyrin cations is observed, which is found to be more prominent in free-base porphyrin dyes with a conjugated linker. Charge recombination between the acceptor species in the redox containing electrolyte and injected electrons is shown to be an important limitation of most porphyrin-sensitised solar cells, accelerated by the presence of porphyrin molecules at the TiO(2)-electrolyte interface. This recombination reaction is strongly dependent on the porphyrin molecular structure. Bulky substituents, using a porphyrin dimer instead of a porphyrin monomer, a light soaking treatment of freshly prepared films and co-sensitization of TiO(2) with multiple dyes are shown to be successful strategies to improve electron lifetime. Finally, new developments unique to porphyrin dye-sensitised solar cells, including performance enhancements from a light exposure treatment of a zinc porphyrin dye, a significant performance improvement observed after co-sensitisation of TiO(2) with free-base and zinc porphyrin dyes and the use of porphyrin dimers with increased light harvesting in thin-film TiO(2) solar cells are described.     

Effects of Donor and Acceptor on Optoelectronic Performance for Porphyrin Derivatives: Nonlinear Optical Properties and Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Typical asymmetric donor-π-bridge-acceptor(D-π-A) zinc porphyrin dyes have been synthesized, and further modified by reacting the ethynyl groups of them with click reagent through a formal [2+2] click reaction. The electronic interaction between the push and pull electronic groups and the click reaction process were investigated by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The nonlinear optical(NLO) properties of the dyes were studied by the Z-scan technique and clearly reverse saturable absorption to saturable absorption(RSA-SA) transition could be observed through click reaction of the dyes with TCNE. Furthermore, the photovoltaic properties of these porphyrin dyes were reaso- nably explained by the J-V curve fitting based on the equivalent-circuit model as well as the comparison between the absorption and incident-photon-to-current-conversion efficiency(IPCE) spectra. Besides, these dyes with different donors or acceptors could self-assembly into different microstructures by phase transfer methodology.     

姜黄素桥连卟啉光敏剂的合成及表征

为了开发新的高效光动力治疗光敏剂, 以2-(2-羟基萘基)-5,10,15,20-四苯基卟啉及其Cu(Ⅱ), Ni(Ⅱ), Zn(Ⅱ)配合物为原料, 利用1,6-二溴己烷桥连具有抗癌活性的小分子姜黄素, 设计合成4个新型的天然产物桥连卟啉化合物. 通过UV, ¹H NMR, IR, MS及元素分析等手段对该新型光敏药剂进行了结构表征; 在此基础上, 采用凝胶电泳法考察了化合物在光照和无光照条件下对pBR322质粒DNA的切割能力. 作为潜在光敏剂与DNA相互作用的初步研究表明, 其与DNA结合能力较强, 具有明显的光敏切割效果.     

Energy transfer in zinc porphyrin-phthalocyanine heterotrimer and heterononamer studied by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)

Two or eight zinc triphenyl porphyrins were conjugated with Zn-phthalocyanine or H2-phthalocyanine to form ZnPc-(ZnTPP)2, ZnPc-(ZnTPP)8, H2Pc-(ZnTPP)2 and H2Pc-(ZnTPP)8. Energy transfers from the porphyrin moiety to phthalocyanine part were quantitatively studied with the modality of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). By measuring the fluorescence increment from the phthalocyanine moiety and the decrease from porphyrin part under selective excitation at the B band of the porphyrin part in those conjugated compounds and their equimolar mixture of compositions, energy transfer efficiencies were estimated to be 90% for H2Pc-(ZnTPP)8 and ZnPc-(ZnTPP)8, and 60%, 30% for ZnPc-(ZnTPP)2 and H2Pc-(ZnTPP)2, respectively.     

Synthesis and near-infrared luminescence of a deuterated conjugated porphyrin dimer for probing the mechanism of non-radiative deactivation

beta,meso,beta-Fused porphyrin oligomers have many attractive photophysical features such as strong absorption in the near-IR at wavelengths greater than 1000 nm, and high two-photon cross sections. However their ultrafast S(1)-S(0) deactivation (k(d) > 10(11) s(-1)) limits potential applications. We have synthesised a deuterated fused porphyrin dimer to test whether deuteration influences the rate of non-radiative deactivation. An efficient synthetic strategy was developed, starting with deuteration of dipyrromethane. Deuteration of the zinc porphyrin dimer does not affect its fluorescence quantum yield in CD(2)Cl(2)(Phi(fD)/Phi(fH)= 1.00 +/- 0.05). This implies that the ultrafast non-radiative deactivation is not simply a consequence of the small S(1)-S(0) energy gap. Comparison with other conjugated porphyrin oligomers confirms that the deactivation rate in the edge-fused oligomers is faster than would be expected from the energy gap law. This result indicates that it should be possible to create near-IR dyes with similar S(1)-S(0) energy gaps to the beta,meso,beta-fused porphyrin oligomers but with slower rates of S(1)-S(0) decay.     

Diverse redox-active molecules bearing identical thiol-terminated tripodal tethers for studies of molecular information storage

To examine the effects of molecular structure on charge storage in self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), a family of redox-active molecules has been prepared wherein each molecule bears a tether composed of a tripodal linker with three protected thiol groups for surface attachment. The redox-active molecules include ferrocene, zinc porphyrin, ferrocene-zinc porphyrin, magnesium phthalocyanine, and triple-decker lanthanide sandwich coordination compounds. The tripodal tether is based on a tris[4-(S-acetylthiomethyl)phenyl]-derivatized methane. Each redox-active unit is linked to the methane vertex by a 4,4'-diphenylethyne unit. The electrochemical characteristics of each compound were examined in solution and in SAMs on Au. Redox-kinetic measurements were also performed on the SAMs (with the exception of the magnesium phthalocyanine) to probe (1) the rate of electron transfer in the presence of an applied potential and (2) the rate of charge dissipation after the applied potential is disconnected. The electrochemical studies of the SAMs indicate that the tripodal tether provides a more robust anchor to the Au surface than does a tether with a single site of attachment. However, the electron-transfer and charge-dissipation characteristics of the two tethers are generally similar. These results suggest that the tripodal tether offers superior stability characteristics without sacrificing electrochemical performance.     

Photophysicochemical and fluorescence quenching studies of benzyloxyphenoxy-substituted zinc phthalocyanines

Photochemical and photophysical measurements were conducted on peripheral and non-peripheral tetrakis- and octakis(4-benzyloxyphenoxy)-substituted zinc phthalocyanines (1, 2 and 3). General trends are described for photodegradation, and fluorescence quantum yields, triplet lifetimes and triplet quantum yields as well as singlet oxygen quantum yields of these compounds in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and toluene. The fluorescence of the complexes is quenched by benzoquinone (BQ), and fluorescence quenching properties are investigated in DMSO and toluene. The effects of the solvents on the photophysical and photochemical parameters of the zinc(II) phthalocyanines (1, 2 and 3) are also reported. Photophysical and photochemical properties of phthalocyanine complexes are very useful for PDT applications.     

Photodynamic actinometry using microspheres: concept, development and responsivity

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) relies on three main ingredients, oxygen, light and photoactivating compounds, although the PDT response is definitively contingent on the site and level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This study describes the development of a novel, fluorescent-based actinometer microsphere system as a means of discerning spatially resolved dosimetry of total fluence and ROS production. Providing a high resolution, localized, in situ measurement of fluence and ROS generation is critical for developing in vivo PDT protocols. Alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate microspheres were produced using ionotropic gelation of sodium alginate droplets, ranging from 80 to 200 microm in diameter, incorporating two dyes, ADS680WS (ADS) and Rhodophyta-phycoerythrin (RPE), attached to the spheres' inside and outside layers, respectively. To test the responsivity and dynamic range of RPE for ROS detection, the production of ROS was initiated either chemically using increasing concentrations of potassium perchromate or photochemically using aluminum tetrasulphonated phthalocyanine. The generation of singlet oxygen was confirmed by phosphorescence at 1270 nm. The resulting photodegradation and decrease in fluorescence of RPE was found to correlate with increased perchromate or PDT treatment fluence, respectively. This effect was independent of pH (6.5-8) and could be inhibited using sodium azide. RPE was not susceptible to photobleaching with light alone (670 nm; 150 Jcm(-2)). ADS, which absorbs light between 600 and 750 nm, showed a direct correlation between radiant exposure (670 nm; 0-100 Jcm(-2)) and diminished fluorescence. Photobleaching was independent of irradiance (10-40 mW cm(-2)). We propose that actinometer microspheres may provide a means for obtaining high spatial resolution information regarding delivered PDT dose within model systems during investigational PDT development and dosimetric information for clinical extracorporeal PDT as in the case of ex vivo bone marrow purging.