A comparative study of water soluble 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2,6-dichloro-3-sulfophenyl)porphyrin and its metal complexes as efficient sensitizers for photodegradation of phenols.

5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(2,6-dichloro-3-chlorosulfophenyl)porphyrin and its tin and zinc complexes were synthesized with high yields and fully characterized. The corresponding water-soluble 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2,6-dichloro-3-sulfophenyl)porphyrins were obtained by hydrolysis with water. An extensive photophysical study of the new water soluble porphyrinic compounds was carried out including absorption and fluorescence spectra, fluorescence quantum yields, triplet absorption spectra, triplet lifetimes, triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields. These sensitizers were successfully used in the photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol and 2,6-dimethylphenol. A comparison is made of their efficiencies, and some mechanistic considerations are highlighted.     

Synthesis, photophysical and photochemical studies of new water-soluble indium(III) phthalocyanines.

The preparation of water-soluble indium(III)phthalocyanine complexes is described for the first time in this study. Peripherally and non-peripherally 3-hydroxypyridine tetrasubstituted indium(III) phthalocyanines (5a, 6a) and their quaternarized derivatives (5b, 6b) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy and mass spectra. The quaternarized compounds (5b, 6b) show excellent solubility in water, which makes them potential photosensitizers for use in photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications. Photochemical and photophysical measurements were conducted on 3-pyridyloxy appended indium(III) phthalocyanines in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) for non-ionic (5a, 6a) and in both DMSO and water for quaternarized (5b, 6b) derivatives. General trends are described for quantum yields of photodegradation, fluorescence lifetimes, fluorescence quantum yields, triplet lifetimes and triplet quantum yields as well as singlet oxygen quantum yields of these compounds. The singlet oxygen quantum yields (Phi(Delta)), which give an indication of the potential of the complexes as photosensitizers in applications where singlet oxygen is required (Type II mechanism) are very high (Phi(Delta) > 0.55). Thus, these complexes may be useful as Type II photosensitizers.     

Photodynamic inactivation of Escherichia coli by novel meso-substituted porphyrins by 4-(3-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumpropoxy)phenyl and 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl groups.

The photodynamic effect of novel cationic porphyrins, with different pattern of meso-substitution by 4-(3-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumpropoxy)phenyl (A) and 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl (B) groups, have been studied in both solution bearing photooxidizable substrates and in vitro on a typical Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli. In these sensitizers, the cationic groups are separated from the macrocycle ring by a propoxy spacer. Thus, the charges have a high mobility and a minimal influence on photophysical properties of the porphyrin. These compounds produce singlet molecular oxygen, O2(1Delta(g)), with quantum yields of approximately 0.41-0.53 in N,N-dimethylformamide. In methanol, the l-tryptophan photodecomposition increases with the number of cationic charges in the sensitizer. In vitro investigations show that cationic porphyrins are rapidly bound to E. coli cells in approximately 5 min. A higher binding was found for A3B3+ porphyrin, which is tightly bound to cells still after three washing steps. Photosensitized inactivation of E. coli cellular suspensions follows the order: A3B3+ > A44+> ABAB2+ > AB3+. Under these conditions, a negligible effect was found for 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS4(4-)) that characterizes an anionic sensitizer. Also, the results obtained for these new cationic porphyrins were compared with those of 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-N,N,N-trimethylammonium phenyl)porphyrin (TTAP4+), which is a standard active sensitizer established to eradicate E. coli. The photodynamic activity of TTAP4+ is quite similar to that produced by A4(4+). Studies in an anoxic condition indicate that oxygen is necessary for the mechanism of action of photodynamic inactivation of bacteria. The higher photodynamic activity of A3B3+ was confirmed by growth delay experiments. Photodynamic inactivation capacities of these sensitizers were also evaluated in E. coli cells immobilized on agar surfaces. Under these conditions, A3B3+ porphyrin retains a high activity to inactivate localized bacterial cells. Therefore, tricationic porphyrin A3B3+ is an interesting sensitizer with potential applications in photodynamic inactivation of bacteria in liquid suspensions or on surfaces.     

Water-soluble cationic gallium(III) and indium(III) phthalocyanines for photodynamic therapy

The new tetra-non-peripheral and peripheral 2-mercaptopyridine substituted gallium(III) and indium(III) phthalocyanine complexes (np-GaPc, p-GaPc, np-InPc and p-InPc) and their quaternized derivatives (Qnp-GaPc, Qp-GaPc, Qnp-InPc and Qp-InPc) have been synthesized and characterized. The quaternized complexes show excellent solubility in water, which makes them potential photosensitizer for use in photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. Photophysical and photochemical properties of these phthalocyanines were investigated. General trends are described for quantum yields of photodegradation, fluorescence and fluorescence lifetimes as well as singlet oxygen quantum yields of these compounds. In this study, the effects of the position of the substituents, the nature of the metal ion and quaternization of the substituents on the photophysical and photochemical parameters of the gallium(III) and indium(III) phthalocyanines are also reported. This study also presented the ionic gallium(III) and indium(III) phthalocyanines strongly bind to bovine serum albumin (BSA).     

Photogeneration of singlet molecular oxygen by the components of hematoporphyrin IX derivative

The photosensitized luminescence of singlet molecular oxygen has been studied in aqueous and alcoholic solutions of hematoporphyrin IX (HP) and di- and oligomeric components of "hematoporphyrin derivative" (photofrin II) which is known to be used as a drug in photodynamic tumor therapy. The quantum yields of 1O2 generation (gamma delta) by these compounds have been determined. It was found that the highest gamma delta values are characteristic of alcoholic and micellar detergent aqueous solutions. In detergent-free aqueous solutions containing mainly associated porphyrin molecules, gamma delta is much lower (5-30%), polymeric photofrin components being considerably less active than HP. Both localization of porphyrins in hydrophobic loci and high photosensitizing activity in lipid phase are supposed to play the key role in tumor photodestruction.     

Folic acid conjugates with photosensitizers for cancer targeting in photodynamic therapy: Synthesis and photophysical properties

Recent researches in photodynamic therapy have focused on novel techniques to enhance tumour targeting of anticancer drugs and photosensitizers. Coupling a photosensitizer with folic acid could allow more effective targeting of folate receptors which are over-expressed on the surface of many tumour cells. In this study, different folic acid–OEG-conjugated photosensitizers were synthesized, characterized and their photophysical properties were evaluated. The introduction of an OEG does not significantly improve the hydrophilicity of the FA–porphyrin. All the FA-targeted photosensitizers present good to very good photophysical properties. The best one appears to be Ce6. Molar extinction coefficient, fluorescence and singlet oxygen quantum yields were determined and were compared to the corresponding photosensitizer alone.     

Determination of the triplet state energies of a series of conjugated porphyrin oligomers.

We report a systematic study of the photophysical parameters relevant to photodynamic therapy (PDT) by a new type of sensitizers, conjugated porphyrin oligomers. Due to the strong nonlinear properties of oligomers containing 2, 4 and 8 porphyrin units, these molecules are attractive candidates for PDT via multiphoton excitation. The triplet state energy levels for all molecules have been determined by the triplet quenching method, phosphorescence measurements and DFT calculations. We find that the triplet energies of all the oligomers are sufficient to generate singlet oxygen, >94 kJ mol(-1). However, low singlet oxygen quantum yields are observed for the tetramer and the octamer, as compared to the conjugated dimer and monomeric porphyrin, reflecting the decrease in triplet yield. Thus the conjugated porphyrin dimer is the most promising core structure for PDT applications via multiphoton excitation.     

Comparative photophysical investigation of oxygen and sulfur as covalent linkers on octaalkylamino substituted zinc(II) phthalocyanines.

This work describes a systematic comparison of oxygen and sulfur as covalent linkers on octasubstituted zinc(II) phthalocyaninates. Most photophysical parameters that make phthalocyanines technologically relevant, e.g. molar absorption coefficients, fluorescence, triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields, are essentially unaffected by the substitution. The energy content of the first triplet state was observed to be close to the first singlet state of molecular oxygen for both spacers, as follows from photoacoustic determinations. Nonetheless, a bathochromic shift of 30 nm in the absorption and emission maxima, and of 60 nm in the triplet-triplet absorption spectra were observed when alkyloxyl and alkylsulfanyl moieties were alternatively present. Fluorescence quantum yields proved to be much more sensitive towards aggregation than the absorption spectra. Therefore, a novel fluorescence data analysis provided aggregation parameters and photophysical properties of the monomeric species. It was observed that the tendency towards dimerization is slightly higher with sulfur linkers. These results set a foundation for the rational design of conveniently substituted phthalocyaninates with different connectors between the macrocycle and the side chains.     

Zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes of beta-substituted hydroxylporphyrins as tumor photosensitizers

Novel photosensitizers beta-(hydroquinon-2-yl)-5,10,15,20-tetra(4-hydroxylphenyl)porphyrinato zinc(II) (Zn(II)P) and beta-(hydroquinon-2-yl)-5,10,15,20-tetra(4-hydroxylphenyl)porphyrinato copper(II) (Cu(II)P) were synthesized and characterized. Their ability of producing singlet oxygen under irradiation was detected by the measurement of decomposition of 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF). The preliminary biological activity studies show that the Zn(II)P has photo-toxicity on human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell (K562) and could cleave supercoiled DNA (pBR 322 DNA), while the Cu(II)P has inferior biological activity. Results showed Zn(II)P having high anti-tumor activity, which presents a promising photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy.     

Spectral, photophysical and photochemical properties of tetra- and octaglycosylated zinc phthalocyanines

Photophysical and photochemical properties of a series of tetra- and octaglycosylated zinc phthalocyanines (ZnPcs) substituted with glucose and galactose moieties have been reported. Spectral properties of these phthalocyanines are compared in DMSO. Absorption spectra of the non-peripherally tetra-substituted ZnPcs 2 showed a significant red shift in their Q-band maxima as compared to the peripherally substituted analog 1. All the complexes gave high triplet quantum yields ranging from 0.68 to 0.88, whereas triplet lifetimes were in the range of 100-430 μs in argon-saturated solutions. The octagalactosylated ZnPc 3b showed the highest triplet quantum yield and singlet oxygen quantum yield of 0.88 and 0.69, respectively. The fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes of all the compounds under investigation were within the range of zinc phthalocyanine complexes.     

Quantum yield of singlet oxygen production by monomeric and aggregated forms of hematoporphyrin derivative

Hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) is a complex mixture of monoporphyrinic compounds, including hematoporphyrin, and oligomers containing up to eight porphyrin units. In methanol a sensitizer concentration-independent quantum yield of 0.64 is measured for the HpD-induced production of singlet molecular oxygen O2 (1Delta(g)). This finding is consistent with the dye components remaining unassociated in this solvent. In water pH 7.4 HpD consists of a complex mixture of non-aggregated and self- and cross-aggregated monoporphyrinic and oligomeric species, and the quantum yield of O2 (1Delta(g)) formation decreases significantly with increasing HpD concentration due to the lower quantum yield of aggregates. These variations can be quantitatively described in terms of a monomer-dimer equilibrium, with quantum yields of 0.64 and 0.11, respectively, for monomers and dimers. The yields of unassociated species are identical in methanol and water.     

Small change in structure leads to large difference in protein photocleavage: two porphyrins bearing rhodanine-based pendants

Two 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrins with one phenyl group anchored to a rhodanine-terminated side chain, RhD-TPP and RhDCOOH-TPP, were designed and synthesized, and their protein photocleavage activities were investigated using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein. Both porphyrins exhibit similar absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, fluorescence quantum yields, and singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) quantum yields in organic solvents due to their structure similarity. They also show similar binding affinities and binding sites toward BSA. However, RhD-TPP is nearly inactive in protein photocleavage while RhDCOOH-TPP can lead to distinct photocleavage of BSA under the same experimental conditions. Such a difference may be attributed to the different binding modes of the two porphyrin derivatives toward BSA, though the apparent binding affinities and the binding sites are similar, and consequently a great difference in the (1)O(2) quantum yields of the two porphyrins bound on BSA. The presence of the COOH group in RhDCOOH is proposed to play an important role, leading to less hydrophobic character and additional interactions towards BSA.     

Study on synthesis and biological activity of a galactosylated piperazinyl porphyrin

In order to obtain an carcinoma-selective drug, the synthesis and characterization of 5,10,15,20-tetra[4-(4′-galactosylpiperazinyl)phenyl]porphyrin (TGPP) is reported. The biological activity on cancer cells and the pharmacokinetics are also reported as preliminary results showing a very high liver to skin ratio and short retention time in tissues, and thus promising activity in photodynamic therapy.     

Photosensitized protein damage by dimethoxyphosphorus(V) tetraphenylporphyrin

For the purpose of the basic study of photodynamic therapy, the activity of the water-soluble P(V)porphyrin, dimethoxyP(V)tetraphenylporphyrin chloride (DMP(V)TPP), on photosensitized protein damage was examined. The quantum yield of singlet oxygen generation by DMP(V)TPP (0.64) was comparable with that of typical porphyrin photosensitizers. Absorption spectrum measurement demonstrated the binding interaction between DMP(V)TPP and human serum albumin, a water-soluble protein. Photo-irradiated DMP(V)TPP damaged the amino acid residue of human serum albumin, resulting in the decrease of the fluorescence intensity from the tryptophan residue of human serum albumin. A singlet oxygen quencher, sodium azide, could not completely inhibit the damage of human serum albumin, suggesting that the electron transfer mechanism contributes to protein damage as does singlet oxygen generation. The decrease of the fluorescence lifetime of DMP(V)TPP by human serum albumin supported the electron transfer mechanism. The estimated contribution of the electron transfer mechanism is 0.64. These results suggest that the activity of DMP(V)TPP can be preserved under lower oxygen concentration condition such as tumor.     

几种血卟啉衍生物在中性水溶液中的聚集状态和光敏产生单线态氧量子产额的比较

通过稀释溶液导致吸收谱变化的分析,探讨了三种国产血卟啉衍生物(BHpd、YHpd和DHE)、血卟啉二盐酸(HPdHC)和原卟啉二钠盐(PpdSS)等五种卟啉类化合物在中性水溶液中的聚集状态。结果表明,YHpd和DHE的聚集体与BHpd和HpdHC的聚集体的结合方式可能不同,前两者结合得牢固,后两者结合得较为松懈。PpdSS的聚集形式介於上述两种情况之间。 用色氨酸光降解法测定了相近条件下用628nm光照时,五种卟啉类化合物中性水溶液中的单线态氧相对 量子产额。BHpd产生单线态氧的相对量子产额分别为YHpd和DHE的1.6倍和8.6倍,而HpdHC和PpdSS在表(?)上观察不到单线态氧的产生,它们本身却遭到较多破坏。 研究启示:由于BHpd和YHpd、DHE在聚集体的结合方式上的差异,它们的光动力的作用性更亦有所不同。     

Photodynamic inactivation of Escherichia coli immobilized on agar surfaces by a tricationic porphyrin

The photodynamic activity of 5,10,15-tris[4-(3-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumpropoxy)phenyl]-20-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)porphyrin iodide (A3B3+) has been studied in vitro on a typical Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli immobilized on agar surfaces. The results obtained for the tricationic A3B3+ porphyrin were compared with those of 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumphenyl)porphyrin p-tosylate (TTAP4+), which is a standard active sensitizer established to eradicate E. coli in cellular suspension. The photobleaching of these porphyrins in solution was evaluated by decay in absorbance and in fluorescence. In both cases, a higher photostability was found for A3B3+ than for TTAP4+. Photodynamic inactivation capacities of these sensitizers were analyzed in E. coli cells immobilized on agar surfaces. Small colonies were treated with different amount of sensitizer (0-14 nmol) and irradiated with visible light for 3h. The light source used was either a projector or midday sun. The A3B3+ porphyrin produced a growth delay of E. coli colonies on agar surfaces. Similar result was obtained irradiating only one isolated colony through an optical fiber. Under these conditions, A3B3+ porphyrin shows a high activity to inactivate localized bacterial cells. The higher photodynamic activity of A3B3+ was confirmed by mechanical spreading of the colonies before treatment. This procedure produces complete inactivation of E. coli cells on the agar surface. Therefore, tricationic A3B3+ porphyrin is an interesting sensitizer with potential applications in photodynamic inactivation of bacteria growing as localized foci of infection.     

Hydrophobicity, topography in membranes and photosensitization of silicon phthalocyanines with axial ligands of varying lengths.

Six amphiphilic silicon phthalocyanines (SiPc's) axially linked to a dimethylated amino alkyl group of varying length have been examined for their potential suitability as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT). This group of molecules was chosen because the length of the axial ligand might place the chromophoric part of the molecule at different vertical depths in the membrane and possibly affect the extent of membrane localized damage caused by singlet oxygen. We tested the relative penetration depth of the SiPc groups in the membrane by the extent to which their fluorescence was quenched by external iodide ions. We also measured singlet oxygen quantum yields of the SiPc's in a liposome membrane, using the fluorescent target for singlet oxygen, 9,10-dimethylanthracene. The hydrophobicity parameters, LogP, were calculated and were also measured. Some correlation was found between them and Kb's, the binding constants for liposomes. The effect of the axial ligand's length is less striking than in similar cases with hematoporphyrins and protoporphyrins. We link this smaller effect with a bending of the linker chain that enables, sterically, a better positioning of the sensitizer molecules within the ordered lipid layer structure.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of 1,1′-binaphthol substituted phthalocyanines

We report on the synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of a new symmetrically tetra substituted {at non-peripheral positions with tetra(1,1′-bi-binaphtoxy)} phthalocyanines containing H₂, Mg(II), Al(III)Cl, Si(IV)Cl₂ in the central cavity. The synthesized compounds were characterized by the elemental analyses, UV-Vis, FT-IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopies. The fluorescence quantum yields, triplet quantum yields and lifetimes of the newly synthesized H₂, Mg, Al, and Si phthalocyanines were explored. Triplet quantum yields ranged from 0.24 to 0.54. The triplet lifetime for the silicon phthalocyanine derivative was the highest ever reported for a phthalocyanine (∼3.5 ms).     

Synthesis and photodynamic activity of zinc(II) phthalocyanine derivatives bearing methoxy and trifluoromethylbenzyloxy substituents in homogeneous and biological media

Two zinc(II) phthalocyanines bearing either four methoxy (ZnPc 3) or trifluoromethylbenzyloxy (ZnPc 4) substituents have been synthesized by a two-step procedure starting from 4-nitrophthalonitrile. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies were analyzed in different media. These compounds are essentially non-aggregated in the organic solvent. Fluorescence quantum yields (phi(F)) of 0.26 for ZnPc 3 and 0.25 for ZnPc 4 were calculated in tetrahydrofuran (THF). The photodynamic activity of these compounds was compared in both THF containing photooxidizable substrates and in vitro on Hep-2 human larynx-carcinoma cell line. The production of singlet molecular oxygen, O(2)((1)Delta(g)), was determined using 9,10-dimethylanthracene yielding values of approximately 0.56 for both sensitizers. Under these conditions, the addition of beta-carotene (Car) suppresses the O(2)((1)Delta(g))-mediated photooxidation. In biological medium, no dark cytotoxicity was found for cells incubated with 0.1 microM of phthalocyanines 3 and 4 for 24 h. However, under similar conditions 0.5 microM of ZnPc 4 was toxic (70% cell survival). The uptake into Hep-2 cells was evaluated using 0.1muM of sensitizer, reaching values of approximately 0.05 nmol/10(6) cells after 3h of incubation at 37 degrees C. The cell survival after irradiation of the cultures with visible light was dependent upon both light exposure level and intracellular sensitizer concentration. A higher photocytotoxic effect was found for ZnPc 3 with respect to 4 (32%/70% cell survival after 15 min of irradiation). Also, these studies were performed treating the cells with 0.5 microM of ZnPc 3. In this case, an increase in the uptake (approximately 0.28 nmol/10(6) cells) was observed, which is accompanied by a higher photocytotoxic activity (20% cell survival). These results show that even though both sensitizer present similar photophysical properties in homogeneous medium, the photodynamic behavior in cellular media can significantly be changed.     

Preparation and in vitro biological evaluation of tetrapyrrole ethanolamide derivatives as potential anticancer agents

Tetrapyrrole ethanolamide derivatives, 1 and 2, were prepared from hematoporphyrin IX (HPIX, 3) and methyl pheophorbide a (mPheo, 6). These were evaluated for their dual action as chemotherapeutics and photosensitizers in treatment of cancer. The novel compounds showed significant in vitro anticancer activity as measured in different cell lines using the MTT assay and photodynamic activity measured by erythrocytes' photohemolysis.