Photodynamic action of amino substituted hypocrellins: EPR studies on the photogenerations of active oxygen and free radical species

A novel method has been employed to prepare 2-butylamino-2-demethoxy hypocrellin A (BADMHA) and 2-butylamino-2-demethoxy hypocrellin B (BADMHB). Both compounds exhibit stronger absorption at the phototherapeutic window (600-900 nm). The spin trapping and spin counteraction studies have shown that they are both efficient generators of the active oxygen (1O2, O2*-) in the aerobic condition. Under the anaerobic condition they generate non-oxygen free radical (semiquinone radical anion), and the active oxygen mechanism of photosensitization can be converted into non-oxygen free radical mechanism with the depletion of oxygen. The quantum yields of 1O2 generation of BADMHA and BADMHB are 0.46 and 0.44, respectively. Both are lower than those of their parent compounds HA and HB. But the productions of superoxide anion are enhanced significantly compared with HA and HB, indicating they are both favorable Type I phototherapeutic agents.     

均相和非均相体系中竹红菌甲素与尾孢素光敏活性的比较

本文在均相有机体系和非均相胶束体系中用ESR、自旋捕捉、消自旋等技术研究了竹红菌甲素(HA)和尾孢素(CP)的光敏特征;测量了其光动力作用过程中¹O₂、负离子自由基和O₂^·-的相对产率,发现均相体系中HA的光敏活性略高于CP。这表明侧环对醌类光敏剂的光敏活性影响不大。在非均相体系中由于胶束对HA激发态较强的保护作用,HA的光敏活性显著地强于CP。     

非离子胶束对竹红菌乙素及其溴代物基态和激发态的保护作用

本文用Triton X-100非离子型胶束增溶竹红菌乙素(HB)及其两种溴代物(5-Br-HB,5,8-diBr-H8),发现该胶束对HB的基态和激发态都有保护作用:(1)HB基态的ρK_a值升高;(2)荧光量子产率增大。这使其光敏反应产生的活性中间体¹O₂和·OH的产额增加,从而增强了其光敏活性,实验还发现,这种胶束对HB的两种溴代物的激发态亦有保护作用,且强于HB,这导致它们O₂和·OH的产额显著高于HB.¹O₂和·OH产额的提高,在光敏损伤作用中具有重要的生物学意义。     

Molecular mechanics study on conformation of perylene-quinonoid photosensitizers

Using molecular mechanics method,values of the heat of formation (HF) of different conformations,of perylenequinonoid photosensitizes hypocrellin A (HA) and hypocrellin B (HB) were calculated and the variance of HF after phenolic protons' dissociation were calculated as well The following was found:(i) The HF values of lour conformational isomers of HA and HB are similar to each other,so the four isomcrs can transform to each other room temperature,(ii) There exists the difference between the ability of dissociation of phenolic protons of HA and that of HB,the former is higher than the latter (iii) There exist two intramolecular hydrogen bonds in HA and HB The bond energy is approximately 8 kJ/mol and the energy of conformation Ⅰ is lower than that of conformationⅡ The bond energy of HA is lower than that of HB.(iv) There exists a low energy snot when phenolic hydroxyl bond twists 180° from the position where hydrogen bond is formed,which suggests that this kind of conformation probably exists,(v) Th     

Effect of structural modification on photodynamic activity of hypocrellins

Aluminum ion complexed 5,8-di-Br-hypocrellin B is a new water-soluble perylenequinonoid derivative with enhanced absorption over hypocrellin B (HB) in the phototherapeutic window (600-900 nm). Electron paramagnetic resonance and 9,10-diphenyl-anthracene bleaching methods were used to investigate the photosensitizing activity of [AL2(5,8-di-Br-HB)Cl4]n in the presence of oxygen. Singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radical and hydroxyl radical can be generated by [AL2(5,8-di-Br-HB)CL4]n photosensitization. Singlet oxygen (1O2) is formed via energy transfer from triplet-state [AL2(5,8-di-Br-HB)CL4]n to ground-state molecular oxygen. 1O2 participates in the generation of a portion of superoxide anion radical (O2.-). Besides superoxide anion radical (O2.-) may originate from the electron transfer between the triplet-state [AL2(5,8-di-Br-HB)CL4]n and the ground-state molecular oxygen. OH is formed through the Fenton-Haber-Weiss reaction and the decomposition of DMPO-1O2 adduct. Compared with HB [AL2(5,8-di-Br-HB)CL4]n primarily remains and enhances the generation efficiency of superoxide anion radical and hydroxyl radical but that of singlet oxygen decreases.     

DNA combining and photocleaving properties of photosensitizer-encapsulated silica nanoparticles

Abstract  

Based on theoretical predictions, water-soluble silica nanoparticle encapsulated hypocrellin A (HA) was prepared, and its photosensitization activity was evaluated. The encapsulated HA showed not only very good water solubility, but also much stronger singlet oxygen generation ability than free HA. Investigations on binding interactions with DNA showed promising results as well. These findings suggest that HA carrier can exert photodynamic action via photosensitization.     

竹红菌甲素光敏活性的量子化学研究

利用密度泛函B3LYP/6-31G^*方法对茈醌类光敏剂竹红菌甲素hypocrellin A(HA)及其模型化合物的结构性质和分子内氢传递(IHT)过程进行了系统的计算研究,比较了各侧链对分子结构和IHT过程的影响.利用CIS/6-31G^*方法对HA的活性中心苝醌(PQ)及与其结构类似的一系列化合物激发态的IHT过程进行了研究.得到的主要结论包括:(1)常温下,处于基态的HA分子能够进行快速的分子内氢传递.(2)HA的几种模型化合物在基态时的IHT势垒、分子内电荷分布与HA差别很小,这说明侧链对IHT过程的影响不大.(3)HA模型化合物的IHT势垒与氧氢键键长变化和氢键键长变化呈良好的线性关系.(4)IHT反应中伴随着一个电荷分离过程,在氢传递过程中占主导地位的是静电相互作用,这说明此IHT过程本质上是质子转移过程.(5)共轭结构对该类分子的激发态IHT过程具有重要影响,总的趋势是对小共轭体系,单重激发态和三重激发态IHT反应的势能曲线分离,随着分子共轭结构的增大,两个激发态势能曲线逐渐接近,发生交叉的可能性以及交叉的程度也随之增大,即从单重态到三重态发生系间窜越的可能性也随之增大.由于分子内氢传递导致单重激发态和三重激发态势能曲线交叉,致使发生系间窜越,使体系三重态量子效率显著提高,从而提高了茈醌类光敏剂的光敏活性.这说明IHT过程对该类分子保持其光敏活性具有重要的意义.     

Synthesis, characterization and photodynamic activity of phenmethylamino-demethoxy-hypocrellin B

Two phenmethylamino hypocrellin B derivatives are novel photodynamic agents synthesized by a mild reaction between hypocrellin B and phenmethylamine. The red absorption of the photosensitizers is enlarged distinctly and the peri-hydroxylated perylenequinone structure of the parent HB is preserved. 9,10-diphenyl-anthracene (DPA) bleaching and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping techniques were used to study the photodynamic activities of the phenmethylamino hypocrellin B derivatives in the presence of oxygen. Singlet oxygen (1O2) and superoxide anion radical (O2*-) generated in the process of illumination of the phenmethylamino hypocrellin B in aerobic solution were observed. The photodamage of PMAHBs to MGC803 cancer cells was investigated in vitro. The results in vitro reveal that the phenmethylamino hypocrellin B derivatives show a much less significant decrease in cytotoxicity than that of their parent HB. It exhibits higher selectivity of light-orientation, which can decrease the damage to normal tissues by irradiating the tumor tissues, and so increases the drug safety.     

Hypocrellins and their use in photosensitization

Hypocrellins A and B are pigments which are isolated from parasitic fungi Hypocrella bambuase (B. et Br) sacc. and Shiraia bambusicola P. Heen found in the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.) and Sri Lanka respectively. These agents, which belong to the general class of perylene quinonoid pigments, have a long history of traditional medicinal agents especially in the P.R.C. Recently their marked photosensitizing properties have been established and exploratory studies initiated. This effort has led to the realization of the potential of the hypocrellins for the photodynamic therapy of tumors. The review summarizes the chemical and photophysical properties of the hypocrellins and their derivatives as well as studies on photosensitization to date at the molecular, cellular and in vivo levels, and their prospects as PDT agents.     

Specific hydration effects on oxo-thio triazepine derivatives

The specific hydration of 2,7-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazepine oxo-thio derivatives by one water molecule has been investigated at the B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. The existence of different hydrogen bond (HB) donor and acceptor centers in these molecules led to different kinds of hydrogen bonds (CH-O, OH-S, NH-O, OH-N, and OH-O) and different kinds of complexes. Among them, the most stable structures correspond to complexes where the heteroatom X or Y at positions 3 and 5 behaves as HB acceptor and the hydrogen atom associated with the nitrogen atom at position 4 as HB donor. In accordance with previous studies, it has been shown that the thiocarbonyl group forms stronger HBs than the carbonyl group because the sulfur atom is a better HB acceptor than the oxygen one. With the help of the AIM (atoms in molecules) theory and ELF (electron localization function) analysis, it has been shown that, in the case of 3O5O, 3S5O, and 3S5S, the most basic site is the heteroatom at position 3, while in 3O5S species the most basic center is the sulfur atom.     

Synthesis of a novel hypocrellin B derivative and its photogeneration of semiquinone anion radical

In order to improve the photosensitizing activity of HB further, the complex of 5,8-di-Br-HB with Al(3+) was first designed and synthesized in high yield. 5,8-di-Br-HB forms a 2:1 type (metal-ligand ratio) complex with Al(3+) measured by molar ratio and continuous variation methods. The new photosensitizer was characterized by UV-Vis, IR, 1H NMR and elemental analysis measurements. Based on the above experimental results, we first proposed a polymer-like structural model of the complex. The water-solubility and red absorption of the [Al(2)(5,8-di-Br-HB)Cl(4)](n) complex are both enhanced over hypocrellin B. In addition, the EPR and spectrophotometric measurements demonstrate that semiquinone anion radical of [Al(2)(5,8-di-Br-HB)Cl(4)](n) can be produced by [Al(2)(5,8-di-Br-HB)Cl(4)](n) photosensitization. The generation efficiency of ([Al(2)(5,8-di-Br-HB)Cl(4)](n))(.-) is almost equal to that of HB(.-). These results obtained indicated that [Al(2)(5,8-di-Br-HB)Cl(4)](n)was at least a favorable Type I phototherapeutic agent.     

Resonance-assisted hydrogen bonds: a critical examination. Structure and stability of the enols of beta-diketones and beta-enaminones

The characteristics of the intramolecular hydrogen bond (IMHB) for a series of 40 different enols of beta-diketones and their nitrogen counterparts have been systematically analyzed at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. In some cases, two tautomers may exist which are interconnected by a hydrogen shift through the IMHB. In tautomer a the HB donor group (YH) is attached to the six-membered ring, while in tautomer b the HB acceptor (X) is the one that is attached to the six-membered ring. We found that changing an O to a N favors the a tautomer when the atom is endo and the contrary when it is exo, while the presence of a double bond favors the a tautomers. As expected, the OH group behaves as a better HB donor than the NH2 group and the C=NH group as a better HB acceptor than the C=O group, although the first effect clearly dominates. Accordingly, the expected IMHB strength follows the [donor, acceptor] trend: [OH, C=NH] > [OH, C=O] > [NH2, C=NH] > [NH2, C=O]. For all those compounds in which the functionality exhibiting the IMHB is unsaturated (I-type), the IMHB is much stronger than in their saturated counterparts (II-type). However, when the systems of the II-type subset, which are saturated, are constrained to have the HB donor and the HB acceptor lying in the same plane and at the same distance as in the corresponding unsaturated analogue, the IMHB is of similar or even larger strength. Hence, we conclude that, at least for this series of unsaturated compounds, the resonance-assisted hydrogen bond effect is not the primary reason behind the strength of their IMHBs, which is simply a consequence of the structure of the sigma-skeleton of the system that keeps the HB donor and the HB acceptor coplanar and closer to each other.     

Hypocrellin B doped and pH-responsive silica nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy

pH-responsive ¹O₂ photosensitizing systems may serve as selective photodynamic therapy (PDT) agents by targeting the acidic interstitial fluid of many kinds of tumors. In this work, a natural and clinically used photosensitizer (Hypocrellin B, HB) and a pH indicator (Bromocresol Purple, BCP) were co-encapsulated in organically modified silica nanoparticles. BCP successfully regulated the ¹O₂ generation efficiency of HB through the “inner filter” effect, which shows much stronger ¹O₂ generation ability in an acidic than in a basic environment. In vitro experiments also demonstrated that HB-doped nanoparticles are effective in killing tumor cells by PDT.

     

Photosensitization mechanisms of triplet excited state beta-lapachone. A density functional theory study

Beta-Lapachone is a natural product with multiple pharmacological activities and mechanistic studies indicated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by beta-lapachone play significant roles in its pharmacological actions. As photosensitization is an important ROS-generating pathway, in the present work, the photosensitization mechanisms of beta-lapachone are explored on the basis of density functional theory estimated triplet excited state characters. Starting from triplet excited state beta-lapachone, the possible generating pathways of 1O2 and O2*- are elucidated and the solvent effects on the photosensitizing reactions are also discussed.     

Density functional theory study of the hydrogen bond interaction between lactones, lactams, and methanol

The structure and relative stability of methanol complexes with various cyclic ketones, lactones, lactams, and N-methyl lactams from three- to seven-membered rings have been investigated using the density functional theory method. The geometries, harmonic frequencies, and energies were calculated at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level. Three stable structures, cis-a, cis-b, and trans, with respect to the ring oxygen (nitrogen) atom, were found to be local minima of the potential energy surface. For lactones and N-methyl lactams, the most stable structure is trans; it is stabilized, as in cyclic ketones, through the conventional hydrogen bond (HB) interaction between the basic carbonyl oxygen and the acidic methanolic hydrogen and an unconventional HB interaction between the methanolic oxygen and the CH hydrogen, in the alpha position of the carbonyl group. For unsubstituted lactams, the cis-a structure, stabilized through a HB interaction between the NH group and the methanol oxygen in addition to the conventional HB interaction, is the most stable. The topological properties of the electron density ratify the existence of conventional (N,O-H. . .O) and unconventional (C-H. . .O) hydrogen bonding. A good correlation was found between the HB distances and the electron density at the HB critical point. The unsubstituted lactams yield more stable complexes with methanol than N-methyl lactams, lactones, and cyclic ketones. In the most stable complexes, both components behave simultaneously as a HB donor and as a HB acceptor.     

Electric magnetic resonance and spectrophotometry evidence on the photodynamic activity of a new perylenequinonoid pigment

Di-cysteine substituted hypocrellin B (DCHB) is a new water-soluble photosensitizer with significantly enhanced red absorption at wavelengths longer than 600 nm over the parent compound hypocrellin B (HB). The photosensitizing properties (Type I and/or Type II mechanisms) of DCHB have been investigated in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and aqueous solution (pH 7.4) using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and spectrophotometric methods. In anaerobic DMSO solution, the semiquinone anion radical of DCHB (DCHB^•−) is predominantly photoproduced via self-electron transfer between excited- and ground-state DCHB species. The presence of an electron donor significantly promotes the formation of the reduced form of DCHB. When a deoxygenated aqueous solution of DCHB and an electron donor are irradiated with 532 nm light, the hydroquinone of DCHB (DCHBH₂) is formed via the disproportionation of the first-formed DCHB^•− and second electron transfer to DCHB^•− from the electron donor. When oxygen is present, singlet oxygen (¹O₂), superoxide anion radical (O₂^•−) and hydroxyl radical (^•OH) are produced. The quantum yield of ¹O₂ generation by DCHB photosensitization is estimated to be 0.54 using Rose Bengal as a reference, a little lower than that of HB (0.76). The superoxide anion radical is also significantly enhanced by the presence of electron donors. Moreover, (O₂^•−) upon disproportionation generated H₂O₂ and ultimately the highly reactive ^•OH via the Haber-Weiss reaction pathway. The efficiency of (O₂^•−) generation by DCHB is obviously enhanced over that of HB. These findings suggest that the photodynamic actions of DCHB may proceed via Type I and Type II mechanisms and that this new photosensitizer retains photosensitizing activity after photodynamic therapy-oriented chemical modification.     

Natural anthraquinones probed as Type I and Type II photosensitizers: singlet oxygen and superoxide anion production

The photosensitizing properties of six anthraquinones (AQs): soranjidiol (1), soranjidiol-1-methyl ether (2), rubiadin (3), rubiadin-1-methyl ether (4), damnacanthal (5) and damnacanthol (6), isolated from leaves and stems of Heterophyllaea pustulata Hook. f. (Rubiaceae) were studied. By means of photobiological and photophysical methods in vitro, the type of photosensitization that these metabolites are capable of producing was determined. Whereas the photosensitized generation of superoxide anion radical (O(2)(-)) (Type I) was evaluated in leukocyte suspensions, singlet molecular oxygen ((1)O(2)) production (Type II) was examined in organic solution. In addition, the quantum yield of (1)O(2) (Phi) in chloroform was measured for those AQs that generate it. It was established that 4 behaves exclusively as a Type I photosensitizer. By contrast, the others AQs act by both types of mechanisms, among which 5 showed the largest Phi of (1)O(2).     

Biophysical evaluation of two red-shifted hypocrellin B derivatives as novel PDT agents

Two novel cyclohexane-1,2-diamino and N,N dimethyl amino-propyl substituted hypocrellin B derivatives, abbreviated as CHA2HB and DMAHB, respectively were synthesized. These derivatives exhibited enhanced absorption in phototherapeutic window. Photodynamic action of these derivatives, investigated using optical and electron spin resonance methods, depended on both Type I and Type II mechanisms. Gel electrophoresis indicated 1O2/O2(.-) mediated DNA damage. CHA2HB displayed 20 fold increase in light dependent cytotoxicity on colon cancer cell line (HCT 116) than the well-known hypocrellin B (HB). The light induced, LD(50) values for CHA2HB and DMAHB were found to be 0.1 microM and 1.5 microM, respectively. The singlet oxygen generating efficiency followed the order HB>CHA(2)HB>DMAHB. But, the enhanced red absorption as well as the hydrophilicity renders the CHA2HB a better photodynamic therapeutic agent.     

Characteristics of the primary reaction of hypocrellin A photosensitization

The primary reaction of photosensitization of Hypocrellin A (HA) has been studied by using techniques of ESR, spin-trapping and spin-counteraction. The experiments show that HA is able to generate not only 1O2, but also O-2, .OH and HA- which are observed for the first time. The conversion of generating active oxygen into generating nonoxygen free radical is confirmed as well. Based on the characteristics of the primary reaction which generates these active substances (transient products), it is proposed that the photosensitized damage for the biological system by HA is probably related to not only 1O2 itself, but also a multiple effect from 1O2 as well as O-2, .OH and HA- free radical.     

Studies on the synthesis of two hydrophilic hypocrellin derivatives with enhanced absorption in the red spectral region and on their photogeneration of O2*- and O2(1(delta)g)

To improve hydrophilicity and photoactivity of the new type of photosensitizer, hypocrellin, two new derivatives were synthesized through a mild reaction method between hypocrellion B (HB) and ethanolamine in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and their molecular structures were characterized by IR, NMR, MS and UV-Vis spectrometry. In the molecular structures of the two derivatives, the peri-hydroxylated perylenquinone structure of the parent HB is preserved and their photoresponses at 600-900 nm (the red spectral region) are enhanced markedly (the molar absorption coefficients at 650 nm for the two new derivatives are EAHB1 log epsilon = 3.72 and EAHB2 log epsilon = 3.91, respectively. In contrast, the parent compound HB exhibits little absorption at 650 nm). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping measurement and a 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA) bleaching method were employed to investigate the photodynamic action of two chemicals in the presence of oxygen. The quantum yields of O2(1(delta)g) generation of EAHB1 and EAHB2 are 0.08 and 0.45, respectively; the relative quantum yields of (O2*-) generation of EAHB1 and EAHB2 are 0.15 and 0.76, respectively, with the parent compound HB as the standard.