Preclinical evaluation of a novel water-soluble chlorin E6 derivative (BLC 1010) as photosensitizer for the closure of the neovessels

In the present study, photodynamic activity of a novel photosensitizer (PS), Chlorin e(6)-2.5 N-methyl-d-glucamine (BLC 1010), was evaluated using the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as an in vivo model. After intravenous (i.v.) injection of BLC 1010 into the CAM vasculature, the applicability of this drug for photodynamic therapy (PDT) was assessed in terms of fluorescence pharmacokinetics, i.e. leakage from the CAM vessels, and photothrombic activity. The influence of different PDT parameters including drug and light doses on the photodynamic activity of BLC 1010 has been investigated. It was found that, irrespective of drug dose, an identical continuous decrease in fluorescence contrast between the drug inside and outside the blood vessels was observed. The optimal treatment conditions leading to desired vascular damage were obtained by varying drug and light doses. Indeed, observable damage was achieved when irradiation was performed at light doses up to 5 J/cm(2) 1 min after i.v. injection of drug doses up to 0.5 mg/kg body weight(b.w.). However, when irradiation with light doses of more than 10 J/cm(2) was performed 1 min after injection of drug doses up to 2 mg/kg body weight, this led to occlusion of large blood vessels. It has been demonstrated that it is possible to obtain the desired vascular occlusion and stasis with BLC 1010 for different combinations of drug and/or light doses.     

Ab initio calculation of the NH(3sigma-)-NH(3sigma-) interaction potentials in the quintet, triplet, and singlet states

We present the ab initio potential-energy surfaces of the NH-NH complex that correlate with two NH molecules in their 3sigma- electronic ground state. Three distinct potential-energy surfaces, split by exchange interactions, correspond to the coupling of the S(A) = 1 and S(B) = 1 electronic spins of the monomers to dimer states with S = 0, 1, and 2. Exploratory calculations on the quintet (S = 2), triplet (S = 1), and singlet (S = 0) states and their exchange splittings were performed with the valence bond self-consistent-field method that explicitly accounts for the nonorthogonality of the orbitals on different monomers. The potential surface of the quintet state, which can be described by a single Slater determinant reference function, was calculated at the coupled cluster level with single and double excitations and noniterative treatment of the triples. The triplet and singlet states require multiconfiguration reference wave functions and the exchange splittings between the three potential surfaces were calculated with the complete active space self-consistent-field method supplemented with perturbative configuration interaction calculations of second and third orders. Full potential-energy surfaces were computed as a function of the four intermolecular Jacobi coordinates, with an aug-cc-pVTZ basis on the N and H atoms and bond functions at the midpoint of the intermolecular vector R. An analytical representation of these potentials was given by expanding their dependence on the molecular orientations in coupled spherical harmonics, and representing the dependence of the expansion coefficients on the intermolecular distance R by the reproducing kernel Hilbert space method. The quintet surface has a van der Waals minimum of depth D(e) = 675 cm(-1) at R(e) = 6.6a0 for a linear geometry with the two NH electric dipoles aligned. The singlet and triplet surfaces show similar, slightly deeper, van der Waals wells, but when R is decreased the weakly bound NH dimer with S = 0 and S = 1 converts into the chemically bound N2H2 diimide (also called diazene) molecule with only a small energy barrier to overcome.     

Automated multiple-layer spotting for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of synthetic polymers utilizing ink-jet printing technology

Recently, a new multiple-layer matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) sample spotting technique for poly(ethylene glycol), offering improved analysis possibilities, was described. In this contribution the application of ink-jet printing to automated, multiple-layer MALDI-TOFMS sample preparation of synthetic polymers is presented, allowing accurate deposition of matrix, additive and analyte solutions. The new sample preparation technique was evaluated for poly(ethylene glycol) as well as poly(methyl methacrylate) standards, and optimized settings for both synthetic polymers have been obtained.     

A mathematical evaluation of dose-dependent PpIX fluorescence kinetics in vivo

The in vivo pharmacokinetics of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) after administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) cannot be described accurately by mathematical models using first-order rate processes. We have replaced first-order reaction rates by dose-dependent (Michaelis-Menten [MM]) reaction rates in a mathematical compartment model. Different combinations of first-order and dose-dependent reaction rates were evaluated to see which one would improve the goodness-of-fit to experimentally determined in vivo PpIX fluorescence kinetics as a function of concentration. The mathematical models that were evaluated are all based on a three-compartment model for drug distribution, conversion to PpIX and subsequent conversion to heme. Implementation of dose-dependent reaction rates improved the goodness-of-fit and enabled interpolation to other drug doses. For most data sets the time constant for delivery to the target cells turned out to be dose dependent. For all data sets the use of MM rates for the conversion of ALA to PpIX yielded better fits. The clearance of PpIX turned out to be a first-order process for all doses and types of administration. Fluorescence curves measured on a specific tissue type but obtained in different studies with different measurement techniques could be described with a single set of parameters.     

One‐Dimensional,Cofacial Porphyrin Polymers Formed by Self‐Assembly of meso‐Tetrakis(ERE Donor) Zinc(II) Porphyrins

A series of meso‐tetrakis‐(ERE donor) zinc(II) porphyrins n Zn (ERE donor=4‐R‐3,5‐bis[(E)‐methyl]phenyl; 1 Zn: E=NMe₂, R=Br; 2 Zn: E=NMe₂, R=H; 3 Zn: E=OMe, R=Br; 4 Zn: E=OMe, R=H) have been synthesized in excellent yields. As a result of the combination of a Lewis acidic site and eight Lewis basic sites within one molecule, monomeric molecules of n Zn self‐assemble to form one‐dimensional porphyrin polymers [ n Zn]_∞ in the solid state, as confirmed for 1 Zn and 3 Zn by X‐ray crystallography. The coordination environment around the zinc(II) ions in these polymers is octahedral. They are ligated by four equatorial nitrogen atoms of the porphyrin and two apical E atoms (E=N, O) provided by the EBrE donor groups of adjacent n Zn molecules. Complexes 2 Zn and 4 Zn did not form single crystals, but solid‐state UV/Vis analysis points to the formation of similar structures. Solution UV/Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy indicated that interactions between 1 Zn and 2 Zn monomers in the polymers are stronger than between 3 Zn and 4 Zn monomers. Interestingly, they also revealed that the presence of a neighboring bromine atom in the EBrE donor groups has a considerable influence on the coordination properties of the benzylic N or O atoms. The zinc(II) ions of the porphyrins most likely adopt only hexacoordination in the solid state, owing to the unique predisposition of Lewis acidic and basic sites in the n Zn molecules. Several parameters of the aggregates, for example, the interplanar separation between porphyrins and the zinc–zinc distances, change as a function of the coordinating E groups. The high degree of modularity in their synthesis makes these zinc(II) porphyrins an interesting new entry in noncovalent multiporphyrin assemblies.     

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-thermospray mass spectrometry of radiation-induced decomposition products of thymine and thymidine.

High-performance liquid chromatography-thermospray mass spectrometry was applied to the analysis of various radiation-induced decomposition products of thymidine including N-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)formamide and the various diastereomers of 5,6-dihydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymidine, 5-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymidine and 5,6-dihydrothymidine. This method combines high sensitivity and product resolution, rendering it particularly useful for monitoring the formation of radiation-induced base damage within DNA.     

Determination of oxaliplatin in human plasma and plasma ultrafiltrate by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry

A method for sensitive determination of the anti-cancer agent oxaliplatin in human plasma and human plasma ultrafiltrate (pUF) is presented. The method is based on the quantification of platinum by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry, with Zeeman correction and an atomisation temperature of 2,700°C. Sample pretreatment involves dilution of the samples with a solution containing 0.15 mol L^–1 NaCl and 0.20 mol L^–1 HCl in water. Validation was performed in accordance with the most recent FDA guidelines for bioanalytical method validation. All results were within requirements. The validated ranges of quantification were 0.10–400 mol L^–1 for human pUF and 0.50–400 mol L^–1 for plasma. The assay is now successfully used to support pharmacokinetic studies of cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin.     

Base- and light-assisted synthesis of anthracenes from 3-allylnaphthalene-2-carbaldehydes

The synthesis of substituted anthracenes from naphthalene precursors is described. The key step involved heating ortho-allyl substituted naphthalene-2-carbaldehydes and potassium t-butoxide in DMF with concomitant irradiation from a high pressure mercury lamp to afford anthracenes in yields of 76-98%.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the Co(II)-assisted oxidation of thioureas by dioxygen

Catalytic oxidation of N,N'-dimethylthiourea and thiourea by dioxygen in water using a new cobalt(II) complex of octasulfophenyltetrapyrazinoporphyrazine was performed under mild conditions. The reaction is shown to include the formation of an intermediate anionic five-coordinate complex followed by an unusual two-electron oxidation to produce the corresponding urea and elemental sulfur (S8). Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for the different reaction steps of the process were determined. Drastic differences in catalytic activity of cobalt and iron octasulfophenyltetrapyrazinoporphyrazines were observed.     

New chiral phosphine-phosphite ligands in the enantioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation

A series of chiral phosphine-phosphite ligands 1-6 have been synthesized and used in the enantioselective palladium-catalyzed reaction of rac-1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate as nucleophile. Ligands 1a, 2, 3, 5a, 6a, and 6b have been synthesized starting from racemic tert-butylphenylphosphinoborane. The use of dynamically resolved Li phosphide (-)-sparteine provided the optically pure ligands. Crystals of the allylpalladium (6a) complex were obtained, suitable for X-ray crystal structure determination. The X-ray crystal structure of the allylpalladium (6a) complex revealed a longer palladium-carbon bond distance trans to the phosphine moiety indicating that the attack of the nucleophile takes place at the carbon trans to the phosphine moiety. This was confirmed by the fact that the phosphine moiety did not affect the enantioselectivity directly. Under mild reaction conditions, enantioselectivities up to 83% were obtained (25 degrees C) with ligand 1e. Systematic variation of the ligand bridge and the phosphite moiety showed that the configuration of the product is controlled by the atropisomerism of the biphenyl substituent at the phosphite moiety. The conformation of the biphenyl group, in turn, is controlled by the substituent at the chiral carbon in the bridge. Ligands with large bite angles yielded higher enantioselectivities.