RAFT Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(Butyl-co-2-(N,N-Dimethylamino)Ethyl Acrylates)-block-Poly(Polyethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Acrylate) as a Photosensitizer Carrier for Photodynamic Therapy.

Polymer micelles are promising drug delivery systems for highly hydrophobic photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications. We previously developed pH-responsive polymer micelles consisting of poly(styrene-co-2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate)-block-poly(polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether acrylate) (P(St-co-DMAEA)-b-PPEGA) for zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) delivery. In this study, poly(butyl-co-2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl acrylates)-block-poly(polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether acrylate) (P(BA-co-DMAEA)-b-PPEGA) was synthesized via reversible addition and fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to explore the role of neutral hydrophobic units in photosensitizer delivery. The composition of DMAEA units in P(BA-co-DMAEA) was adjusted to 0.46, which is comparable to that of P(St-co-DMAEA)-b-PPEGA. The size distribution of the P(BA-co-DMAEA)-b-PPEGA micelles changed when the pH decreased from 7.4 to 5.0, indicating their pH-responsive ability. The photosensitizers, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)chlorin (TFPC), 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (TFPP), protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), and ZnPc were examined as payloads for the P(BA-co-DMAEA)-b-PPEGA micelles. The encapsulation efficiency depended on the nature of the photosensitizer. TFPC-loaded P(BA-co-DMAEA)-b-PPEGA micelles exhibited higher photocytotoxicity than free TFPC in the MNNG-induced mutant of the rat murine RGM-1 gastric epithelial cell line (RGK-1), indicating their superiority for photosensitizer delivery. ZnPc-loaded P(BA-co-DMAEA)-b-PPEGA micelles also exhibited superior photocytotoxicity compared to free ZnPc. However, their photocytotoxicity was lower than that of P(St-co-DMAEA)-b-PPEGA. Therefore, neutral hydrophobic units, as well as pH-responsive units, must be designed for the encapsulation of photosensitizers.

Effect of tertiary amino groups in the hydrophobic segment of an amphiphilic block copolymer on zinc phthalocyanine encapsulation and photodynamic activity.

Polymer micelles are promising nanocarriers for hydrophobic photosensitizers of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Poly(styrene-co-(2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate))-block-poly(polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether acrylate) (P(St-co-DMAEA)-b-PPEGA; 1) was prepared via reversible addition and fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization as a carrier for a zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) photosensitizer to be used in PDT. The DMAEA-unit composition in the P(St-co-DMAEA) segment was adjusted to 0.40 molar ratio, which caused a sharp increase in water-solubility when the pH decreased from 7.4 to 5.0. The polymer 1 micelle size distribution also shifted to lower when the pH decreased, whereas this change was not observed in PSt-co-PPEGA (2), which was previously reported. The UV-vis spectrum of the ZnPc-loaded micelles of polymer 1 exhibited relatively sharp Q bands, comparable to those measured in DMSO, indicating good compatibility of the condensed core with ZnPc. ZnPc-loaded micelles of polymer 1 exerted excellent photocytotoxicity in the MNNG-induced mutant of the rat murine RGM-1 gastric epithelial cell line (RGK-1). In contrast, the ZnPc-loaded micelles of polymer 2 were completely inactive under the same conditions. Fluorescence from the RGK-1 cells treated with ZnPc-loaded micelles of polymer 1 was observed after 4 h of co-incubation, while no fluorescence was observed in cells treated with ZnPc-loaded micelles of polymer 2. These results indicate that the pH-responsive nature and good compatibility with ZnPc exhibited by the polymer 1 micelles are essential characteristics of ZnPc carriers for efficient photodynamic therapy.

Photosensitized Protein-Damaging Activity, Cytotoxicity, and Antitumor Effects of P(V)porphyrins Using Long-Wavelength Visible Light through Electron Transfer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a less-invasive treatment for cancer through the administration of less-toxic porphyrins and visible-light irradiation. Photosensitized damage of biomacromolecules through singlet oxygen (1O2) generation induces cancer cell death. However, a large quantity of porphyrin photosensitizer is required, and the treatment effect is restricted under a hypoxic cellular condition. Here we report the phototoxic activity of P(V)porphyrins: dichloroP(V)tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin (CLP(V)TMPP), dimethoxyP(V)tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin (MEP(V)TMPP), and diethyleneglycoxyP(V)tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin (EGP(V)TMPP). These P(V)porphyrins damaged the tryptophan residue of human serum albumin (HSA) under the irradiation of long-wavelength visible light (>630 nm). This protein photodamage was barely inhibited by sodium azide, a quencher of 1O2. Fluorescence lifetimes of P(V)porphyrins with or without HSA and their redox potentials supported the electron-transfer-mediated oxidation of protein. The photocytotoxicity of these P(V)porphyrins to HeLa cells was also demonstrated. CLP(V)TMPP did not exhibit photocytotoxicity to HaCaT, a cultured human skin cell, and MEP(V)TMPP and EGP(V)TMPP did; however, cellular DNA damage was barely observed. In addition, a significant PDT effect of these P(V) porphyrins on a mouse tumor model comparable with the traditional photosensitizer was also demonstrated. These findings suggest the cancer selectivity of these P(V)porphyrins and lower carcinogenic risk to normal cells. Electron-transfer-mediated oxidation of biomacromolecules by P(V)porphyrins using long-wavelength visible light should be advantageous for PDT of hypoxic tumor.

Synthesis, photophysical properties, and photodynamic activity of positional isomers of TFPP-glucose conjugates.

The synthesis and characterization of a 'complete set' of positional isomers of tetrakis(perfluorophenyl)porphyrins (TFPP)-glucose conjugates (1OH, 2OH, 3OH, 4OH, and 6OH) are reported herein. The cellular uptake and photocytotoxicity of these conjugates were examined in order to investigate the influence of location of the TFPP moiety on the d-glucose molecule on the biological activity of the conjugates. An In vitro biological evaluation revealed that the certain of these isomers have a greater effect on cellular uptake and cytotoxicity than others. The TFPP-glucose conjugates 1OH, 3OH, and 4OH were found to exert exceptional photocytotoxicity in several types of cancer cells compared to 2OH and 6OH substituted isomers.

Encapsulation of rat bone marrow stromal cells using a poly-ion complex gel of chitosan and succinylated poly(Pro-Hyp-Gly).

Encapsulation of stem cells into a three-dimensional (3D) scaffold is necessary to achieve tissue regeneration. Prefabricated 3D scaffolds, such as fibres or porous sponges, have limitations regarding homogeneous cell distribution. Hydrogels that can encapsulate cells such as animal-derived collagen gels need adjustment of the pH and/or temperature upon cell mixing. In this report, we fabricated a poly-ion complex (PIC) hydrogel of chitosan and succinylated poly(Pro-Hyp-Gly) and assessed its effect on cell viability after encapsulation of rat bone marrow stromal cells. PIC hydrogels were obtained successfully with a concentration of each precursor as low as 3.0-3.8 mg/ml. The maximum gelation and swelling ratios were achieved with an equal molar ratio (1:1) of anionic and cationic groups. Using chitosan acetate as a cationic precursor produced a PIC hydrogel with both a significantly greater gelation ratio and a better swelling ratio than chitosan chloride. Ammonium succinylated poly(Pro-Hyp-Gly) as an anionic precursor gave similar gelation and swelling ratios to those of sodium succinylated poly(Pro-Hyp-Gly). Cell encapsulation was also achieved successfully by mixing rat bone marrow stromal cells with the PIC hydrogel simultaneously during its formation. The PIC hydrogel was maintained in the culture medium for 7 days at 37°C and the encapsulated cells survived and proliferated in it. Although it is necessary to improve its functionality, this PIC hydrogel has the potential to act as a 3D scaffold for cell encapsulation and tissue regeneration. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Syntheses, photophysical properties, and photocytotoxicities of tetrakis(fluorophenyl)porphyrin derivatives bearing 2-hydroxyethylthio groups.

Porphyrin derivatives for photodynamic therapy are frequently modified with hydrophilic groups to improve their water solubility; however, such hydrophilic groups not only improve the solubility but also affect the photodynamic behavior of the compound. The suitable number and pattern of the hydrophilic substituents depend on the nature of the hydrophilic groups. In this article, we explore the optimum architecture for 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (TFPP) derivatives bearing 2-hydroxyethylthio substituents. All five derivatives, namely mono-, cis-bis-, trans-bis-, tris- and tetrakis-substituted TFPP, were successfully synthesized by the nucleophilic aromatic substitution of TFPP with 2-hydroxyethanethiol, separated, and subsequently identified using ESI-TOF mass spectrometry and (1)H and (19)F NMR spectroscopies. The hydrophilicity of the compounds increased with an increase in the number of 2-hydroxyethylthio groups. The singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical generation efficiencies were estimated using chemical probes following photoirradiation (λ>500nm). trans-Bissubstituted TFPP exhibited the highest efficiency for both singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical generation. The photocytotoxicities of the photosensitizers were evaluated in HeLa cells following photoirradiation (λ>500nm, 16Jcm(-2)), and increased with an increase in number of 2-hydroxyethylthio groups. In the case of 2-hydroxyethylthio-substituted TFPPs, the fully substituted TFPP was the most efficient architecture plausibly because of the result of the hydrophilicity of the compound rather than a greater efficiency in the generation of reactive oxygen species.

Synthesis, Photophysical Properties, and Biological Evaluation of trans-Bisthioglycosylated Tetrakis(fluorophenyl)chlorin for Photodynamic Therapy.

trans-Bisthioglycosylated tetrakis(fluorophenyl)chlorin (7) was designed as a powerful photodynamic therapy (PDT) photosensitizer based on the findings of our systematic studies. We show here that the trans-bisthioglycosylated structure of 7 enhanced its uptake by HeLa cells and that the chlorin ring of 7 increased the efficiency of reactive oxygen species generation under the standard condition of our photocytotoxicity test. The versatility of 7 in PDT treatment was established using weakly metastatic B16F1 melanoma cells, metastatic 4T1 breast cancer cells, the RGK-1 gastric carcinoma mucosal cell line, and three human glioblastoma cell lines (U87, U251, and T98G). The pharmacokinetics of 7 in mice bearing 4T1 breast cancer cells showed a high tumor-to-skin concentration ratio (approximately 60) at 24 h after intraperitoneal injection. The PDT efficacy of 7 in vivo was approximately 250-times higher than that of mono-l-aspartyl chlorin e6 (9) in mice bearing 4T1 breast cancer cells.

Selective accumulation of [6²Zn]-labeled glycoconjugated porphyrins as multi-functional positron emission tomography tracers in cancer cells.

Positron-emission tomography (PET) can be used to visualize active stage cancer. Fluorine-18 ([(18)F])-labeled 2-([(18)F])2-deoxy-2-fluoroglucose (([(18)F])-FDG), which accumulates in glucose-dependent tissues, is a good cancer-targeting tracer. However, ([(18)F])-FDG is obscured in glucose-dependent normal tissues. In this study, we assessed the cancer-selective accumulation of zinc-labeled glycoconjugated 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (ZnGlc1-4), both in vitro and in vivo. Experiments using both normal and cancer cells confirmed the relationship between cancer cell-selective accumulation and the substitution numbers and orientations of glycoconjugated porphyrins. ZnGlctrans-2 accumulated at greater levels in cancer cells compared with other glycoconjugated porphyrins. PET imaging showed that ZnGlctrans-2 accumulated in tumor.

Sugar and heavy atom effects of glycoconjugated chlorin palladium complex on photocytotoxicity.

Palladium(II) complexes of glycoconjugated porphyrin and pyrrolidine-fused chlorin were prepared to examine sugar and heavy atom effects on in vitro photocytotoxicity. Cellular uptake into HeLa cells was enhanced by introducing sugar units regardless of other features, such as the central ion (free base or palladium(II) ion) and the ring structure (porphyrin or chlorin). The palladium(II) complex of glycoconjugated pyrrolidine-fused chlorin (PdPC2) exerted an excellent degree of photocytotoxicity not only on HeLa cells, but also on metastatic B16-BL6 cells, weakly metastatic B16F1 cells, and metastatic 4T1 cells. However, free-base glycoconjugated pyrrolidine-fused chlorin (PC2) also exerted similar or much higher photocytotoxicity rather than PdPC2. Therefore, the palladium(II) ion did not improve the in vitro photocytotoxicity of PC2. The enhanced singlet oxygen generation of palladium(II) complexes (i.e., the heavy atom effect) was confirmed at least in O(2)-saturated D(2)O. In addition, the formation of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical were also detected in O(2)-saturated phosphate buffered saline. However, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation efficiency, which is the product of the (relative) quantum yield of each ROS and the light absorbing ability, did not fit the trends of photocytotoxicity seen for the photosensitizers. In our glycoconjugated photosensitizers tested, the best indicator of the photocytotoxicity was found to be the light absorbing ability (namely, the oscillator strength in the wavelength region applied in the photocytotoxicity test). These results indicated that photochemical characteristics of glycoconjugated photosensitizers were notably susceptible to the microenvironment. The biological characteristics, such as the sugar effect, were a much more reliable approach to improving the photocytotoxicity of photosensitizers.

Collagen-like polypeptide poly(Pro-Hyp-Gly) conjugated with Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser and Pro-His-Ser-Arg-Asn peptides enchances cell adhesion, migration, and stratification.

Collagens are widely used in medical applications, including as a scaffold for tissue regeneration. However, animal-derived collagens have several drawbacks, such as low thermal stability, nonspecific cell adhesion, antigenicity, and contamination with pathogenic substances. To overcome these problems, we chemically synthesized the collagen-like polypeptide, poly(prolyl-hydroxyprolyl-glycyl) (poly(Pro-Hyp-Gly)), which forms a collagen-like triple-helical structure and shows biodegradability and biocompatibility. Here, we designed a novel scaffold where fibronectin-derived Gly Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (GRGDS) and Pro-His-Ser-Arg-Asn (PHSRN) peptides were simultaneously conjugated with poly(Pro-Hyp-Gly). We assessed cell adhesion and migration activities using NIH3T3 cells in the scaffold and stratification ofimmortalized rabbit corneal epithelial cells. Cell adhesion was enhanced in scaffolds with GRGDS, increased with increasing amounts of conjugated GRGDS, and was significantly higher than bovine type I atelocollagen but lower than bovine fibronectin. Interestingly, simultaneous conjugation of GRGDS and PHSRN synergistically enhanced cell migration. Scaffolds containing almost equal amounts of GRGDS and PHSRN showed significantly higher cell migration than bovine type I atelocollagen. Addition of free GRGDS completely inhibited cell migration on the scaffold, whereas addition of free PHSRN partially inhibited cell migration. These results suggest that GRGDS plays a definitive role, and PHSRN plays an additional role, in cell migration. Conjugation of GRGDS resulted in the same level of stratification of rabbit corneal epithelial cells compared with bovine type I atelocollagen and bovine fibronectin. Because the simultaneous conjugation of GRGDS and PHSRN on poly(Pro-Hyp-Gly) enhances cell adhesion, migration, and stratification, it may be a useful scaffold for tissue regeneration.

Anticoagulant activity of enzymatically synthesized amylose derivatives containing carboxy or sulfonate groups.

Heparin is an extracellular matrix polysaccharide. It is widely employed as an anticoagulant and can be used to form an anticoagulant surface on various medical devices such as renal dialysis devices to prevent thrombosis. However, heparin may cause hemorrhage and thrombocytopenia. Moreover, commercially available heparin may be contaminated with viruses and allergens of animal origin, as it is derived mainly from porcine or bovine tissue. To avoid these problems, we prepared succinated and sulfonated enzymatically synthesized amylose (SucESA and SulfESA, respectively) and assessed their anticoagulant activity. SucESA and SulfESA inhibited factor Xa activity in normal human plasma to an equal extent. However, SucESA strongly inhibited thrombin activity, whereas SulfESA only inhibited it slightly. These results suggest that SucESA inhibits the activities of both factor Xa (or its upstream coagulation factors) and thrombin and that SulfESA inhibits only factor Xa activity (or that of its upstream coagulation factors). SucESA and SulfESA with a high degree of substitution strongly inhibited factor Xa and thrombin activity compared with those of the derivatives with a low degree of substitution, even when present in high concentrations. This suggests that the density of the anion group determines the degree of inhibition of factor Xa and thrombin activity. SucESA, which has a high molecular weight, inhibited thrombin activity to a greater degree than low molecular weight SucESA. Because SucESA and SulfESA inhibited both purified factor Xa and thrombin irrespective of the presence of antithrombin, it is suggested that SucESA and SulfESA inhibit via direct action with both enzymes.

Synthesis, photophysical properties and photocytotoxicity of mono-, di-, tri- and tetra-glucosylated fluorophenylporphyrins.

In order to explore the effect of substitution patterns on the photocytotoxicity of glycoconjugated porphyrins, we synthesized and characterized a 'complete set' of tetrakis(perfluorophenyl)porphyrins having beta-d-glucopyranosylthio groups on the phenyl ring. Among five possible derivatives, trans-substituted S-glucosylated porphyrin trans-2(OH) exerted outstanding photocytotoxicity (EC(50) value was < 5 nM) in HeLa cells. The excellent photocytotoxicity of trans-2(OH) was found to be attributable to several factors, namely high optical transition probability in aqueous media, efficient type I photoreactions and enhanced cellular uptake.

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure study on reaction of anti-tumor platinum complexes with reduced glutathione.

Reactions of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) and 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylatodiammineplatinum(II) (carboplatin) with reduced glutathione, a tripeptide that is abundant in cells, were studied by means of X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Back-scattering amplitudes F(i)(k) and phase shifts Phi(i)(k) were theoretically derived, and validated by applying them to calculate extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) oscillations of cisplatin and K(2)[Pt(SCN)(4)] in the solid state. EXAFS oscillations of reaction mixtures of cisplatin or carboplatin with reduced glutathione were fitted to the standard EXAFS equation using the F(i)(k) and Phi(i)(k) functions to give the coordination numbers of N or O atoms (N(N/O)) and of Cl or S atoms (N(Cl/S)). For both cisplatin and carboplatin, the N(N/O) value decreased and the N(Cl/S) values increased monotonically as the reaction proceeded. However, the reaction rate for carboplatin was significantly slower than that for cisplatin.

Synthesis, photophysical properties and sugar-dependent in vitro photocytotoxicity of pyrrolidine-fused chlorins bearing S-glycosides.

Eight S-glycosylated 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(tetrafluorophenyl)porphyrins (1a', 1b', 1a and 1b (a: S-glucosylated, b: S-galactosylated)) and their 1,3-dipolar cycloadducts, i.e. chlorins 2a', 2b', 2a and 2b were prepared by nucleophilic substitution of the pentafluorophenyl groups with S-glycoside. These photosensitizers were characterized by (1)H, (13)C and (19)F NMR spectroscopies and elemental analysis. The photocytotoxicity of the S-glycosylated photosensitizers and the parent porphyrin (1) and chlorin (2) was examined in HeLa cells. Photosensitizers 1, 2, 1a', 1b', 2a' and 2b' showed no significant photocytotoxicity at the concentration of 0.5microM, while the deprotected photosensitizers 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b were photocytotoxic. The strong inhibition by sodium azide of the photocytotoxicity of these photosensitizers suggested that (1)O(2) is the main mediator. The S-glucosylated photosensitizers 1a and 2a showed higher photocytotoxicity than S-galactosylated 1b and 2b, respectively. The cellular uptake of 1a and 2a increased up to 24h, while that of 1b and 2b was saturated by 12h.

In vitro heavy-atom effect of palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of pyrrolidine-fused chlorin in photodynamic therapy.

Introduction of a heavy atom into photosensitizers generally facilitates intersystem crossing and improves the quantum yield (Phi(Delta)) of singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)), which is a key species in photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, little information is available about the physiological importance of this heavy-atom effect. The aim of this study is to examine the heavy-atom effect in simple metallochlorins in vitro at the cellular level. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylide to 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrinato palladium(II) and platinum(II) afforded metallochlorins 4b and 4c in yields of 17.1 and 12.9%, respectively. The Phi(Delta) values increased in the order of 4a (0.28) < 4b (0.89) < 4c (0.92) in C(6)D(6). The photocytotoxicity of 4a, 4b, and 4c was evaluated in HeLa cells at a light dose of 16 J x cm(-2) with lambda > 500 nm and increased in the order of 4a < 4b < 4c at the concentration of 0.5 microM. The photocytotoxicity of 4b and 4c was significantly inhibited by addition of sodium azide, but not D-mannitol, suggesting that (1)O(2) is the major species causing cell death. Our results clearly indicate that 4b and 4c act as efficient (1)O(2) generators due to the heavy-atom effect in a cellular microenvironment as well as in nonphysiological media.

Synthesis and photocytotoxicity of S-glucosylated 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(tetrafluorophenyl)porphyrin metal complexes as efficient (1)O(2)-generating glycoconjugates.

5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-d-glucopyranosylthio)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)porphyrin 2a and its Zn(II), Pd(II), and Pt(II) complexes 2b, 2c, and 2d were prepared in excellent yields by nucleophilic substitution of the corresponding free-base porphyrin and metalloporphyrins with acetyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-beta-d-glucopyranoside. Deprotection of 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d by alkaline hydrolysis afforded the corresponding S-glucosylated porphyrin 3a and its metal complexes 3b, 3c, and 3d. The structures and purity of all new photosensitizers were confirmed by elemental analysis and (1)H, (13)C, and (19)F NMR, UV-vis, and steady-state luminescence spectroscopy. The relative efficiency of singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) production increased in the order of free-base fluoroporphyrins (2a and 3a) < Zn(II) complexes (2b and 3b) < Pd(II) complexes (2c and 3c), which can be explained in terms of the heavy-atom effect, while the (1)O(2)-producing efficiency of Pt(II) complexes (2d and 3d) were exceptionally low. In vitro photocytotoxicity of these eight S-glucosylated photosensitizers was examined in HeLa cells. Although all protected photosensitizers 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d showed no photocytotoxicity, the photosensitizers 3a, 3b, and 3c exerted potent photocytotoxicity. These results clearly indicated that the sugar moieties of 3a, 3b, and 3c act as not only water-solubility-enhancing functionalities but also cellular-uptake-enhancing elements. Photocytotoxicity testing of 3a, 3b, and 3c in the presence of reactive oxygen species inhibitors suggested that (1)O(2) is the major mediator of cell death. Hence, the Zn(II) and Pd(II) complexes 3b and 3c are promising photosensitizers having cellular uptake-facilitating units (sugar moieties) and enhanced (1)O(2) generation due to the heavy-atom effect.

Structure-photodynamic effect relationships of 24 glycoconjugated photosensitizers in HeLa cells.

The photodynamic effect of the glycoconjugated photosensitizer library containing 16 glycoconjugated 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrins and 8 glycoconjugated 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylchlorins were examined in HeLa cells, and analyzed by two approaches, namely, physiological properties (cellular uptake and reactive oxygen species (ROS)) and structural features of glycoconjugated photosensitizers. All glycoconjugated photosensitizers showed no cytotoxicity in the dark at a concentration of 5 muM. The photocytotoxicity profiles poorly related to the amount of cellular uptake of the photosensitizers. Photocytotoxicities of the glycoconjugated photosensitizers were inhibited by the ROS inhibitor, sodium azide. The result clearly suggests that singlet oxygen is a dominant species in all cases. The glycoconjugated photosensitizers examined have three structural features, namely, (1) the kind of sugar moieties, (2) the kind of light-absorbing moiety and (3) the substitution position of the sugar moiety. In regard to the sugar moieties, the photosensitizers bearing D-xylose tend to show higher photocytotoxicity than other photosensitizers, while those bearing D-arabinose tend to show lower photocytotoxicity. The photocytotoxicity with respect to the light-absorbing moiety tends to increase in the order of zinc porphyrin

Sugar-dependent photodynamic effect of glycoconjugated porphyrins: a study on photocytotoxicity, photophysical properties and binding behavior to bovine serum albumin (BSA).

The photocytotoxicity of four glycoconjugated porphyrins, namely 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)phenyl]porphyrin (p-1a), 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(beta-D-galactopyranosyloxy)phenyl]porphyrin (p-1b), 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(beta-D-xylopyranosyloxy)phenyl]porphyrin (p-1c) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(beta-D-arabinopyranosyloxy)phenyl]porphyrin (p-1d), was evaluated in HeLa cells in the concentration range from 1 to 7 microM using a light dose of 16 J x cm(-2) with a wavelength greater than 500 nm. The photocytotoxicity depends on the sugar moieties, and increases in the order of p-1d

Sugar-dependent aggregation of glycoconjugated chlorins and its effect on photocytotoxicity in HeLa cells.

In order to explore the influence of the sugar moieties of glycoconjugated chlorins on the photocytotoxicity, we studied the photochemical properties of four glycoconjugated chlorins in aqueous media such as cytoplasm and the concentration dependence of photocytotoxicity in HeLa cells. In phosphate-buffered saline, the fluorescence intensities of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorin (m-1a) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3-(beta-D-galactopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorin (m-1b), i.e., chlorins having hexose groups, were about 2-fold greater than those of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3-(beta-d-xylopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorin (m-1c) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3-(beta-d-arabinopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorin (m-1d), i.e., chlorins having pentose groups, owing to a sugar-dependent difference of aggregation behavior. While no cytotoxicity was found in the dark, the highest photocytotoxicity was shown by m-1a (82% inhibition) in HeLa cells. This was higher than those of m-1b, m-1c, m-1d and tetraphenylporphyrin tetrasulfonic acid. The glycoconjugated chlorins except for m-1b appeared to be distributed diffusely throughout the cytoplasm. Among the four photosensitizers, m-1a showed the highest intensity in confocal fluorescence images, in agreement with the in vitro photocytotoxicity results. For m-1c, no photocytotoxicity was found at drug concentrations from 0.2 to 0.04 microM. Hence, sugar-dependent aggregation is not the major reason for the unexpected lack of efficacy of m-1c, which is uptaken efficiently by HeLa cells. For the glycoconjugated chlorins, these results suggest the biological aspects of sugar moiety play much crucial role rather than chemical aspects.

Cellular uptake and photocytotoxicity of glycoconjugated chlorins in HeLa cells.

Eight 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3- or 4-(beta-D-glycopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorins were synthesized by means of the Whitlock method with diimide reduction and purified by reversed-phase thin layer chromatography (RP-TLC). All compounds were characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, electron-spray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF MS), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. ESI-TOF MS could detect the 2H difference in molecular weight between a glycoconjugated chlorin and its corresponding porphyrin (i.e., 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3- or 4-(beta-D-glycopyranosyloxy)phenyl]porphyrin). The cellular uptake of the eight chlorins was evaluated in HeLa cells. All glycoconjugated chlorins showed higher cellular uptake than tetraphenylporphyrin tetrasulfonic acid (TPPS), and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3-(beta-D-xylopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorin showed 50-fold higher uptake than TPPS. The photocytotoxicity of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorin, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3-(beta-D-xylopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorin and TPPS towards HeLa cells was examined at the concentration of 2x10(-7) M (mol/dm(3)). These photosensitizers had no cytotoxicity in the dark, but their photocytotoxicity decreased in the order of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorin>5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3-(beta-D-xylopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorin>TPPS. The results indicate that the photocytotoxicity is not related simply to cellular uptake.