Quinone sensitized electron transfer photooxidation of nucleic acids: chemistry of thymine and thymidine radical cations in aqueous solution

The 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (MQ) sensitized photooxidation of nucleic acid derivatives has been studied by laser flash photolysis and steady state methods. Thymine and thymidine, as well as other DNA model compounds, quench triplet MQ by electron transfer to give MQ radical anions and pyrimidine or purine radical cations. Although the pyrimidine radical cations cannot be directly observed by flash photolysis, the addition of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (TMPD) results in the formation of the TMPD radical cation via scavenging of the pyrimidine radical cation. The photooxidation products for thymine and thymidine are shown to result from subsequent chemical reactions of the radical cations in oxygenated aqueous solution. The quantum yield for substrate loss at limiting substrate concentrations is 0.38 for thymine and 0.66 for thymidine. The chemistry of the radical cations involves hydration by water leading to C(6)-OH adduct radicals of the pyrimidine and deprotonation from the N(1) position in thymine and the C(5) methyl group for thymidine. Superoxide ions produced via quenching of the quinone radical anion with oxygen appear to be involved in the formation of thymine and thymidine hydroperoxides and in the reaction with N(1)-thyminyl radicals to regenerate thymine. The effects of pH were examined in the range pH 5-8 in both the presence and absence of superoxide dismutase. Initial C(6)-OH thymine adducts are suggested to dehydrate to give N(1)-thyminyl radicals.     

Metallophthalocyanines photosensitize the breakdown of (hydro)peroxides in solution to yield hydroxyl or alkoxyl and peroxyl free radicals via different interaction pathways

Interactions of organic peroxides (R'OOR) and hydroperoxides (R'OOH), including H2O2, with excited triplet and singlet state metallophthalocyanines (MPc, M = Zn, Al) have been studied by T-T absorption decay and fluorescence quenching. The ensuing photochemical processes result in decomposition of (hydro)peroxides as assessed by photo-EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) and spin trapping. In argon-saturated apolar solutions and low MPc concentrations, alkoxyl free radicals (*OR) were identified as the primary products of (hydro)peroxide breakdown. Similarly, photosensitized decomposition of symmetric disulfides results in the formation of sulfur-centered radicals. In air-free aqueous solutions, ROOH photosensitization always gave rise to a mixture of hydroxyl and peroxyl radical (*OOR) adducts in varying molar ratios. At high MPc concentrations, both in polar and in apolar solutions, the most abundant products of ROOH decomposition were identified as *OOR. This indicates a change in the predominant interaction pathway, most likely mediated by MPc exciplexes and involving H-atom abstraction from ROOH by MPc-cation radicals. The prevalence of MPc singlet vs. triplet state interactions was confirmed by the much higher singlet quenching rate constants (log kq up to 9.5; vs. log kT < or = 4.5). In contrast to the triplet quenching, singlet quenching rates were found to depend on the (hydro)peroxide structure, following closely the trend of varying *OR yields for different substrates. Thermodynamic calculations were performed to correlate experimental results with models for electronic energy and charge transfer processes in agreement with the Marcus theory (Rhem and Weller approximation) and Savéant's model for a concerted dissociative electron transfer mechanism.     

Phthalocyanine-peptide conjugates via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

Phthalocyanines (Pc) were conjugated with peptide moieties to improve their target selectivity for potential use as fluorescence and/or positron emission tomography (PET) probes in medical imaging. Three synthetic methods based on palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions (Sonogashira, Buchwald-Hartwig, and Suzuki-Miyaura) were investigated. Using these methods, a series of peptides monofunctionalized with Pc at the N/C-terminal position or on a phenylalanine side chain was obtained in good yields and characterized.     

合成金雀异黄素水溶性硫酸酯的研究

金雀异黄素(Genistein,4',5,7-trihydroisoflavone,G)属异黄酮类化合物,在豆类植物中广泛存在.许多关于G药理作用的研究报道显示:G具有抑制癌细胞生长、影响心血管系统的活性,对多种酶(如:TPK,TOPOⅡ,CKⅡ,PKC等)有抑制作用,且其类雌激素作用具有可能的抗骨质疏松作用[1-4],具有开发成新型药物的潜在价值.     

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.     

Oxidation and reactivity of nitrogen- and phosphorus-doped heterofullerenes

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest significantly different oxidation behaviour for phosphorus-doped heterofullerenes compared to their pure and nitrogen-doped counterparts, due to formation of a phosphene oxide. This oxide is not thermally labile, suggesting stable phosphofullerenes are likely to be C(59)POH and (C(59)PO)(2). In contrast, azafullerenes form stable epoxides when oxidised. We calculate the effect of oxidation on radical pairing and hydrogen passivation. Notably while the C(59)N radical behaves as a donor, C(59)PO will be an acceptor.     

Partially miscible polystyrene/polymethylphenylsiloxane blends for nanocomposites

The potential of polystyrene/polymethylphenylsiloxane (PS/PMPS) blends as a matrix for nanocomposites is investigated. It was proven by dynamic rheometry and conductivity measurements that PMPS effectively disperses carbon nanotubes, as was already known for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The phase behaviour of PS/PMPS blends was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry or modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry. The blends were found to exhibit partial miscibility, in contrast to the known immiscible behaviour of PS/PDMS blends. A miscibility window exists for PS/PMPS blends containing less than approximately 10 wt% PMPS.     

苯丙烯酸对松节油转化水合萜二醇的作用研究

本文对苯丙烯酸在松节油转化成水合萜二醇反应中的作用进行了对比研究。结果表明，在传统的２７％Ｈ２ＳＯ４催化，平平加，ＯＰ－１０，吐温－８０及吐温－８０￣吐温－２０混合剂分别作乳化剂的松节油水合反应中，加入苯丙烯酸可使水合萜二醇的收率提高８￣１０％，反应时间缩短４－７小时，本文还对产物及副产物作了质谱分析。     

Biological activities of phthalocyanines--III. Photoinactivation of V-79 Chinese hamster cells by tetrasulfophthalocyanines

Abstract— Tetrasulfophthalocyanine and a series of its metal chelates were tested for their ability to photoinactivate V-79 Chinese hamster cells. Incubation of cells for 1 h with tetrasulfophthalocyanine at 5 μM effectively sensitized cells towards red light. At the 1% survival level, the dye was 4 x more efficient than hematoporphyrin, efficiency being defined in terms of drug concentration in the medium and incident light fluence rather than on the basis of quanta absorbed. Chelation of the dye with metal ions resulted in most cases in a greatly diminished photosensitizing effect, except for cerium. The cerium complex was about 5 x more effective for cell killing than the metal free tetrasulfophthalocyanine and 20 x more efficient as compared to hematoporphyrin. Hypoxic conditions resulted in total loss of photoactivity indicating the involvement of oxygen in the action mechanism. The inactivation by near-UV light by these drugs was also investigated. The potential of sulfonated phthalocyanines as novel photosensitizers for photodynamic cancer therapy is discussed.     

Theoretical analysis of fluorine addition to single-walled carbon nanotubes: functionalization routes and addition patterns

We present a theoretical investigation on the chemical addition patterns governing the fluorination of single wall carbon nanotubes. Monte Carlo calculations based on a Hückel model suggest that fluorination is stabilized in a bandlike pattern due to electronic confinement effects on the tube bond network topology. Ab initio analysis of the fluorination of small nanotubes show that fluorine addition along the nanotube axis direction is favored by a mechanism of carbon framework distortion. The experimentally observed formation of fluorine bands may be thus explained in terms of multiple axial C(2)F rows expanding by contiguous axial addition.