PHOTOSENSITIZATION BY DRUGS: NALIDIXIC AND OXOLINIC ACIDS

Abstract— The antibacterial drugs, nalidixic acid and oxolinic acid, have been tested as photosensitizers in aqueous solution using 365 nm UV light. Absorption and fluorescence spectra indicate that intramolecular hydrogen bonding stabilizes the unionized form of these compounds in the pH region2–4. The ability of the unionized species to sensitize photooxidation by the type II (singlet oxygen) mechanism was found to be lower than when these drugs were ionized. Comparison withquinoline–3-carboxylic acid and the methyl esters of nalidixic and oxolinic acids emphasised the significance of the hydrogen bonding in relation to the excited state properties. Unionized nalidixic acid undergoes photolysis more readily than the ionized form, apparently by a free radical mechanism, while oxolinic acid is more stable.     

Phototoxic potential of quinolones.

The photohaemolytic potentials of the quinolones oxolinic acid, pipemidic acid, rosoxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and M-193324 (synthesis intermediary) were evaluated and compared with the photohaemolysis induced by nalidixic acid. Quinolones with a piperazine group in position 7 (pipemidic acid, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin) did not induce photohaemolysis. However, oxolinic acid, rosoxacin and M-193324 produced a concentration- and oxygen-dependent photohaemolysis. Ascorbic acid, histidine and thiourea inhibited the photohaemolysis induced by oxolinic acid, rosoxacin and M-193324, suggesting a photodynamic mechanism similar to that found with nalidixic acid. In addition, deuterium oxide increased the photohaemolysis induced by photohaemolytic quinolones, indicating that this process is mediated by singlet oxygen.     

Comparison of different methods for the determination of several quinolonic and cinolonic antibiotics in trout muscle tissue by HPLC with fluorescence detection

Summary Quinolonic and cinolonic derivatives are mainly used as antibacterials in fish-farms. In this paper we describe a careful revision of the treatment procedures of samples and a prodedure for the determination of residues of these compounds. Because of the complexity and duration of these procedures, several studies have been carried out and these have lead to a simpler and shorter method. Three approaches have been examined: lyophilization followed by extraction with chloroform, solid-liquid extraction with chloroform and solid-liquid extraction with sodium hydroxide solution, followed by liquid-liquid partition in chloroform. Some previous studies into the partition equilibrium are also included. As a result of our studies we propose a procedure with a lower number of steps than those previously described in the literature. This method has been applied to the analysis of nalidixic, 7-hydroxymethylnalidixic and oxolinic acids and cinoxacin in trout muscle. These analysis have been carried out using an HPLC system equipped with a C₁₈ column and fluorimetric detection. The mobile phase was acetonitrile:oxalic acid. The recoveries obtained were: 70–97% for 7-hydroxymethylnalidixic acid, 75–78% for nalidixic acid, 71–95% for oxolinic acid and 72–85% for cinoxacin.     

Detection and Prevention of Ocular Phototoxicity of Ciprofloxacin and Other Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics†

Fluoroquinolone (FLQ) drugs are a potent family of antibiotics used to treat infections including ocular infections. To determine if these antibiotics may be phototoxic to the eye, we exposed human lens epithelial cells to 0.125–1 mm FLQs (ciprofloxacin [Cipro], lomefloxacin [Lome], norfloxacin [Nor] and ofloxacin [Ofl]), the precursor quinolone nalidixic acid (Nalid) and UVA radiation (2.5 J cm⁻²). Based on fluorescence confocal microscopy, FLQs are diffused throughout the cytoplasm and preferentially located in the lysosomes of lens epithelial cells. Neither FLQ exposure alone nor UVA exposure alone reduced cell viability. However, with exposure to UVA radiation the FLQs studied (Cipro, Nor, Lome and Ofl) induced a phototoxic reaction that included necrosis, apoptosis, loss of cell viability as measured by MTS, and membrane damage as determined by the lactate dehydrogenase assay. Both Nalid and all FLQs studied (Cipro, Nor, Lome and Ofl) photopolymerized the lens protein α-crystallin. Phototoxic damage to lens epithelial cells and/or α-crystallin will lead to a loss of transparency of the human lens. However, if precautions are taken to filter all UV radiation from the eye while taking these antibiotics, eye damage may be prevented.     

Photochemical and phototoxic properties of ethyl 1,4-dihydro-8-nitro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylate, a new quinoline derivative

The present study demonstrates photoinduced generation of superoxide radical anion and singlet oxygen upon UVA irradiation of ethyl 1,4-dihydro-8-nitro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylate (DNQC), and its cytotoxic/phototoxic effects on murine leukemia L1210 cells. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was investigated by EPR spectroscopy using in situ spin trapping technique and 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-piperidine (TMP) for singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) detection. The EPR spectra monitored upon photoexcitation of aerated solutions of DNQC in dimethylsulfoxide evidenced the efficient activation of molecular oxygen via Types I and II mechanisms. The cytotoxic/phototoxic effects of DNQC, analysis of cell cycle, induction of apoptosis/necrosis, DNA damage and molecular mechanism of apoptotic death of L1210 cells in dark and in the presence of UVA irradiation were compared. DNQC induced a different cytotoxic/phototoxic effect, which was concentration- and time-dependent. The four highest tested concentrations of non-photoactivated and photoactivated DNQC induced immediate cytotoxic/phototoxic effect after 24h cultivation of L1210 cells. This effect decreased with the time of treatment. The irradiation increased the sensitivity of leukemia cell line on DNQC, but the cell sensitivity decreased with time of processing. Quinolone derivative DNQC significantly induced direct DNA strand breaks in L1210 cells, which were increased with the irradiation of cells. The DNA damage generated by DNQC alone/with combination of UVA irradiation induced cell arrest in G(0)/G(1) and G(2)/M phases, decrease in the number of L1210 cells in Sphase and apoptotic cell death of certain part of cell population after 24 h of influence. DNQC alone/with combination of UVA irradiation induced apoptosis in L1210 cells through ROS-dependent mitochondrial pathway.     

Screening of quinolone residues in pig muscle by planar chromatography

Summary A high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method based on solid-phase extraction has been developed for the qualitative determination of seven quinolones (enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, norfloxacin, flumequine, oxolinic acid and nalidixic acid) in pork muscle. After preparation of the samples by extraction and clean-up by solid-phase extraction on reversed-phase cartridges, extracts were spotted and eluted on silica gel plates. The plate is first inspected under UV illumination at 312 nm, then sprayed with terbium chloride solution and again monitored under 312 nm UV. The method has been validated to a level of 15 μg kg⁻¹ for enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, norfloxacin and 5 μg kg⁻¹ for flumequin, oxolinic acid and nalidixic acid.     

Automated analysis of oxolinic acid and flumequine in salmon whole blood and plasma using dialysis combined with trace enrichment as on-line sample preparation for high-performance liquid chromatography

The use of dialysis as sample clean-up for high-performance liquid chromatography makes fully automated determination of drugs in whole blood and plasma possible. High recoveries of the analytes oxolinic acid and flumequine and the internal standard nalidixic acid are obtained after a short time of dialysis (7.3 min). The dilute dialysates are enriched on a small column packed with polystyrene. When dialysis is discontinued, the analytes are eluted by mobile phase to the analytical column. With UV detection the limit of detection was 50 ng/ml for both oxolinic acid and flumequine. Validation showed good precision and accuracy and good correlation between determinations in plasma and whole blood.     

Determination of the structure of quinolone-γ-cyclodextrin complexes and their binding constants by means of UV–Vis and <Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR

The host–guest inclusion complex structure and binding ability of two different quinolones with γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) were investigated in solution by means of UV–Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Competition of oxolinic and nalidixic acid molecules for the γ-CD cavity was evaluated by determination of association constants. Both quinolones form 1:1 inclusion complexes, their binding constants at room temperature (25 °C) under acidic and basic conditions were calculated using Benesi–Hildebrand equation. The stability of the complexes was dependent on the structure of the quinolone. In general, the weaker binding constants were observed for oxolinic acid-γ-CD complexes (1616 and 1765 M^?1) and the larger binding constants were obtained for nalidixic acid-γ-CD complexes (3760 and 3840 M^?1). ¹H NMR studies in D₂O were performed to elucidate the structure of each inclusion complex, nalidixic acid molecule penetrates more deeply into the γ-CD cavity and an intermolecular hydrogen bond is formed. Knowledge about structure and relative stability of quinolone-γ-CD complexes will be useful for future applications of these antimicrobial agents in medicinal chemistry.     

Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of a Short Molecule,PS14 Derived from the Virulent Cellulose Binding Domain of Aphanomyces invadans,on Human Laryngeal Epithelial Cells and an In Vivo Zebrafish Embryo Model

In this study, the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities of PS14, a short peptide derived from the cellulase binding domain of pathogenic fungus, Aphanomyces invadans, have been evaluated, in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis of PS14 revealed the physicochemical properties and the web-based predictions, which indicate that PS14 is non-toxic, and it has the potential to elicit anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. These in silico results were experimentally validated through in vitro (L6 or Hep-2 cells) and in vivo (zebrafish embryo or larvae) models. Experimental results showed that PS14 is non-toxic in L6 cells and the zebrafish embryo, and it elicits an antitumor effect Hep-2 cells and zebrafish embryos. Anticancer activity assays, in terms of MTT, trypan blue and LDH assays, showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cell proliferation. Moreover, in the epithelial cancer cells and zebrafish embryos, the peptide challenge (i) caused significant changes in the cytomorphology and induced apoptosis; (ii) triggered ROS generation; and (iii) showed a significant up-regulation of anti-cancer genes including BAX, Caspase 3, Caspase 9 and down-regulation of Bcl-2, in vitro. The anti-inflammatory activity of PS14 was observed in the cell-free in vitro assays for the inhibition of proteinase and lipoxygenase, and heat-induced hemolysis and hypotonicity-induced hemolysis. Together, this study has identified that PS14 has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities, while being non-toxic, in vitro and in vivo. Future experiments can focus on the clinical or pharmacodynamics aspects of PS14.     

The Assessment of Meloxicam Phototoxicity in Human Normal Skin Cells: In Vitro Studies on Dermal Fibroblasts and Epidermal Melanocytes

Meloxicam (MLX), which belongs to the oxicam nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug derivatives, is an inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme. Cutaneous adverse effects caused by interaction between UVA radiation and exogenous factors can manifest as phototoxic reactions. Phototoxicity may be a reason for the accumulation of genetic and molecular changes in long-lived cells with low proliferation potential, leading to tumor development. There are several potentially phototoxic drugs, the active component of which is meloxicam. The research aimed to evaluate the influence of MLX and UVAR on skin cells—fibroblasts and melanocytes homeostasis. The obtained results indicated that co-treatment with MLX and UVAR inhibited skin cell proliferation, proportionally to the drug concentration. The observation was confirmed by cytometric analysis of the cell number and viability. The phototoxic effect of MLX was revealed in morphological changes. It was stated that MLX with UVAR lowered the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and changed the cell cycle profile. Additionally, MLX and UVAR caused the disruption of redox homeostasis by lowering the intracellular level of reduced thiols. The presented study revealed that the phototoxic activity of MLX is associated with oxidative stress induction and disruptions in cell homeostasis. The differences in the phototoxic effects of MLX at the cellular level may be related to the different content of melanin pigments.     

On the effect of covalently appended quinolones on termini of DNA duplexes

Quinolones are gyrase inhibitors that are widely used as antibiotics in the clinic. When covalently attached to oligonucleotides as 5'-acylamido substituents, quinolones were found to stabilize duplexes of oligonucleotides against thermal denaturation. For short duplexes, such as qu-T*GCGCA, where qu is a quinolone residue and T is a 5'-amino-5'-deoxythymidine residue, an increase in the UV melting point of up to 27.8 degrees C was measured. The stabilizing effect was demonstrated for all quinolones tested, namely nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid, pipemidic acid, cinoxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin. The three-dimensional structure of (oa-T*GCGCA)2, where oa is an oxolinic acid residue, was solved by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and restrained molecular dynamics. In this complex, the oxolinic acid residues disrupt the terminal T1:A6 base pairs and stack on the G2:C5 base pairs. The displaced adenosine residues bind in the minor groove of the core duplex, while the thymidine residues pack against the oxolinic acid residues. The "molecular cap" thus formed fits tightly on the G:C base pairs, resulting in increased base-pairing fidelity, as demonstrated in UV melting experiments with the sequence oa-T*GGTTGAC and target strands containing a mismatched nucleobase. The structure of the "molecular cap" with its disrupted terminal base pair may also be helpful for modeling how quinolones block re-ligation of DNA strands in the active site of gyrases.     

Preparation and in Vitro Anti-Laryngeal Cancer Evaluation of Protopanaxadiol-Loaded Hollow Gold Nanoparticles

Protopanaxadiol (PPD) has inhibitory effects on a variety of tumor cells, but the poor water solubility and low availability limit its clinical application. By using polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified hollow gold nanoparticles (HAuNs-PEG) as the transport carriers, we prepared here the PPD-loaded HAuNs-PEG (HAuNs-PEG-PPD). And then we conducted a number of experiments to investigate the in vitro anti-laryngeal cancer effect (Hep-2 cell as a model) of HAuNs-PEG-PPD, such as using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to detect the sustained release effect, MTT assay to detect the inhibitory effect on the proliferation of Hep-2 cells, and flow cytometry to determine the apoptosis of Hep-2 cells. The results showed that HAuNs-PEG-PPD had an obvious sustained release effect. Compared with those in the control group, HAuNs-PEG group and PPD group, the survival rate of Hep-2 cells decreased and the apoptosis rate increased significantly (p < 0.01) in the HAuNs-PEG-PPD group. The HAuNs-PEG- PPD could significantly enhance the anti-laryngeal cancer effect of PPD and promote the apoptosis of tumor cells. Thus, the HAuNs is a promising drug delivery system of PPD in clinical treatment of laryngeal cancer.     

Effective cleanup for the determination of six quinolone residues in shrimp before HPLC with diode array detection in compliance with the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC

A high‐performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of six quinolone residues (ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, sarafloxacin, oxolinic acid, nalidixic acid, and flumequine) in shrimp tissue samples. Separation was carried out by a LiChrospher® 100 RP‐8e column, running at a 22 min gradient elution program, and the mobile phase consisted of citric acid (0.4 mol/L), acetonitrile and methanol. Detection was achieved by a diode array detector, monitoring at 255 and 275 nm. Sample preparation included initial extraction with citric acid solution and further clean‐up by solid‐phase extraction, employing Lichrolut RP‐18 cartridges. Validation was performed according to the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC. The detection capability was 127.2 μg/kg for ciprofloxacin, 115.2 μg/kg for enrofloxacin, 126.2 μg/kg for sarafloxacin, 113.1 μg/kg for oxolinic acid, 125.2 μg/kg for nalidixic acid, and 239.0 μg/kg for flumequine. Recoveries ranged between 83.0 and 121.6%. The Youden test was applied to study the method ruggedness.     

Alteration of insulin binding and cytoskeletal organization in cultured fibroblasts by tertiary amine local anesthetics.

Tertiary amine local anesthetics cause a time- and dose-dependent, reversible increase in insulin binding sites in cultured chick embryo fibroblasts. Incubation of fibroblasts with 0.2 mM dibucaine for 3 h at 37 degrees C results in a twofold to threefold increase in insulin binding, with an increase in average number of binding sites (Ka = 3.0 X 10(7) M-1) from 9 X 10(3) per cell. Trypsin or ethyleneglycoltetraacetic acid (EGTA) alone increases insulin binding twofold to threefold, but fails to further increase 125I-insulin binding in cells pretreated with dibucaine. Transformation of chick embryo fibroblasts with Rous sarcoma virus causes a threefold to fivefold increase in insulin binding, which is not further increased by incubation with dibucaine. As demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy, dibucaine and trypsin also induce changes in the cytoskeleton of chick embryo fibroblasts, characterized by disorganization and disappearance of microfilament and microtubule bundles. These alterations are accompanied by gross morphologic changes, including rounding of cells and appearance of numerous ruffles and blebs on the cell surface. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that expression of surface receptors in cultured chick embryo fibroblasts is related to the organization and disorganization of cytoskeletal structures.     

Comparative sensitivity of microvascular endothelial cells, fibroblasts and tumor cells after in vitro photodynamic therapy with meso-tetra-hydroxyphenyl-chlorin

The phototoxic effect of meso-tetra-hydroxyphenyl-chlorin (mTHPC)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on human microvascular endothelial cells (hMVEC) was compared with that on human fibroblasts (BCT-27) and two human tumor cell lines (HMESO-1 and HNXOE). To examine the relationship between intrinsic phototoxicity and intracellular mTHPC content, we expressed cell survival as a function of cellular fluorescence. On the basis of total cell fluorescence, HNXOE tumor cells were the most sensitive and BCT-27 fibroblasts the most resistant, but these differences disappeared after correcting for cell volume. Endothelial cells were not intrinsically more sensitive to mTHPC-PDT than tumor cells or fibroblasts. Uptake of mTHPC in hMVEC increased linearly to at least 48 h, whereas drug uptake in the other cell lines reached a maximum by 24 h. No difference in drug uptake was seen between the cell lines during the first 24 h, but by 48 h hMVEC had a 1.8- to 2.8-fold higher uptake than other cell lines. Endothelial cells showed a rapid apoptotic response after mTHPC-mediated PDT, whereas similar protocols gave a delayed apoptotic or necrotic like response in HNXOE. We conclude that endothelial cells are not intrinsically more sensitive than other cell types to mTHPC-mediated PDT but that continued drug uptake beyond 24 h may lead to higher intracellular drug levels and increased photosensitivity under certain conditions.     

EVALUATION OF SULFONATED ALUMINUM PHTHALOCYANINES FOR USE IN PHOTOCHEMOTHERAPY. A STUDY ON THE RELATIVE EFFICIENCIES OF PHOTOINACTIVATION

The cellular photosensitivity caused by aluminum phthalocyanines sulfonated to different degrees (AlPcSn) has been investigated. The phototoxic effect increased with decreasing number of sulfonate groups on the macrocycle, with the exception of AlPcS1 which was less phototoxic than AlPcS2 but more phototoxic than AlPcS3 and AlPcS4. The tendency of the AlPcSns to aggregate in our cellular system increased with increasing lipophilicity of the sensitizers. The aggregates had little or no photosensitizing activity. The low efficiency of cell inactivation caused by AlPcS1 can be explained by the highly aggregated state of this sensitizer in the cells. AlPcS2 and AlPcS3 induced a lower degree of cell inactivation per fluorescing quantum and per quantum absorbed by monomeric species than did AlPcS2 and AlPcS1. AlPcS4 and AlPcS3 are therefore suggested to be in different intracellular locations than AlPcS2 and AlPcS1.     

液相色谱-串联质谱法检测水产品中15种喹诺酮类药物残留量

建立了液相色谱-串联质谱技术同时检测水产品中15种喹诺酮类药物(氟罗沙星、氧氟沙星、依诺沙星、诺氟沙星、环丙沙星、恩诺沙星、洛关沙星、单诺沙星、奥比沙星、双氟沙星、沙拉沙星、司帕沙星、口恶喹酸、萘啶酸、氟甲喹)残留量的方法.试样中残留的喹诺酮类药物采用乙腈提取,提取液经正已烷液液分配脱脂后,以强阳离子固相萃取小柱净化,液相色谱.串联质谱法测定.对液/质分离条件与样品前处理条件进行了优化,并对喹诺酮类药物在分析过程的稳定性进行了研究.15种喹诺酮类药物在1.0～100 μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数为0.9924～0.9992.在0.002～0.04 mg/kg浓度范围内,平均加标回收率在79.9%～93.8%;相对标准偏差为4.8%～14.6%.方法可满足水产品中喹诺酮类药物多残留检测与确证的需要.     

MOLECULAR BASIS OF DRUG PHOTOTOXICITY: PHOTOSENSITIZED CELL DAMAGE BY THE MAJOR PHOTOPRODUCT OF TIAPROFENIC ACID

Abstract Tiaprofenic acid is a photosensitizing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, whose major photoproduct (decarboxytiaprofenic acid) is also a potent photosensitizer. Because of the lack of the carboxylate moiety, this photoproduct is more lipophilic and might bind more efficiently to cell membranes, thereby causing phototoxic damage. To verify the feasibility of this hypothesis, we have prepared the ³H-labeled analogs of tiaprofenic acid and its photoproduct and examined the binding, persistence and phototoxicity of the photoproduct using poorly metabolizing (fibroblasts) and actively metabolizing cells (hepatocytes). The photoproduct of tiaprofenic acid accumulates in both cell types as it is formed. Upon removal of the photoproduct from the culture medium, it rapidly disappears from hepatocytes but not from fibroblasts. Consequently, irradiation of fibroblasts previously incubated with the photoproduct and kept in culture in the dark for 20 h results in generalized cell damage while this effect is not observed in hepatocytes. Because of its long persistence in poorly metabolizing skin cells and its reluctance to photobleaching, the formation of this photoproduct in skin may be of relevance to explain the in vivo phototoxicity of tiaprofenic acid.     

Extension of multi-residue methodology to include the determination of quinolones in food.

The multi-residue procedure for basic drugs described elsewhere by this laboratory has been evaluated for quinolone and fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The fluoroquinolones are a relatively new class of drug and an increasing number of licensed products containing these compounds are becoming available for use in animal husbandry. This, along with the possibility of the development of antibiotic resistant human pathogens, make it an important class of drug for which methodology is required for the monitoring of residues in food. Validation data are presented for a range of compounds including the quinolones; oxolinic acid and nalidixic acid, and the fluoroquinolones; flumequine, ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, enoxacin, enrofloxacin, lomefloxacin, marbofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin and sarafloxacin. Foods for which the method was validated included poultry muscle (chicken and turkey), egg, chicken liver, honey, cattle muscle and pig muscle. This application of the multi-residue procedure further demonstrates the importance and wide-ranging usefulness of the technique.     

Photogenotoxicity of fluoroquinolones in Chinese hamster V79 cells: dependency on active topoisomerase II

The Chinese hamster V79 lung cell in vitro micronucleus assay was adapted to detect and quantify phototoxicity and photogenotoxicity of fluoroquinolones. Using this assay, the quinolones were ranked in terms of decreasing phototoxicity: clinafloxacin > lomefloxacin, sparfloxacin > trovafloxacin, nalidixic acid, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin > enoxacin, norfloxacin. This rank order agrees well with published studies utilizing various other phototoxicity models and establishes this approach as a fast and sensitive way to characterize the phototoxic potential of quinolones. Nearly complete inhibition of phototoxicity was observed if the cells were pretreated for as little as 1 min with 10-20 mM sodium azide prior to the addition of quinolone. An identical azide effect was seen in unirradiated quinolone- and etoposide-treated cells. These findings are consistent with a model in which sodium azide renders DNA topoisomerase II catalytically inactive. In this state, topoisomerase II cannot initiate DNA strand cleavage and the DNA/topoisomerase complex becomes insensitive to quinolones and other topoisomerase II inhibitors. The fact that azide reduces both UV-dependent and UV-independent toxicity and clastogenicity strongly suggests a common mechanism of toxicity dependent on the formation of topoisomerase-induced DNA double-strand breaks.