Exploring copper (II) porphyrin complexes and their derivatives for electrochemical analysis and biological assessment in the study of breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines.

In this study, several derivatives of tetraphenylporphyrin were synthesized, each with unique meso-substituent groups including phenyl, methoxyphenyl, butyloxyphenyl, octyloxyphenyl, and dectyloxyphenyl. Additionally, their corresponding copper complexes were prepared and thoroughly characterized. The structural confirmation of all compounds was established through CHN elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and FT-IR spectroscopy. As the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl long-chain increased, a slight red shift in the electronic absorption band was observed, which was attributed to the electronic influence of the alkyl group. DFT analysis indicated that electron density predominantly localized on the porphyrin ring of both the metal free porphyrins and copper (II) porphyrin complexes, with relatively low electron density in the p orbital of the meso-aryl long-chain substituent group. EPR spectroscopy of the Copper (II) ion complexes revealed signals, indicating their paramagnetic properties. Additionally, the Copper (II) tetraphenylporphyrin (CuTPP) complexes displayed two reversible oxidation peaks at +0.97 V and +1.35 V, whereas other derivatives exhibited lower oxidation potentials. The cytotoxicity of these compounds against MCF-7 cell lines was assessed using MTT assay, revealing cytotoxic effects in all cases. Among them, Copper (II) tetrakis (4-methyloxyphenyl)porphyrin (CuTOMPP) demonstrated the highest potential, with an IC50 value of 32.07 µg/mL.

Methylated N-(4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzyl) chitosan for novel effective gene carriers.

The objective of this study was to investigate the transfection efficiency of quaternized N-(4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzyl) chitosan, TM(47)-Bz(42)-CS, using the plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescent protein (pEGFP-C2) on human hepatoma cell lines (Huh7 cells), in comparison to quaternized chitosan (TM(43)-CS) and chitosan (CS). Factors affecting the transfection efficiency, such as the carrier/DNA weight ratio, the pH of the culture medium, and the presence of serum, have been investigated. The results revealed that TM(47)-Bz(42)-CS was able to condense with pDNA. As illustrated by the agarose gel electrophoresis, the complete complexes of TM(47)-Bz(42)-CS/DNA were formed at a weight ratio of above 0.5, whereas those of TM(43)-CS/DNA and CS/DNA were formed at a ratio of above 1. TM(47)-Bz(42)-CS showed superior transfection efficiency to TM(43)-CS and CS at all weight ratios tested. Higher transfection efficiency and gene expression were observed when the carrier/DNA weight ratios increased. The highest transfection efficiency was found at a weight ratio of 8. The results indicated that the improved gene transfection was due to the hydrophobic group (N,N-dimethylaminobenzyl) substitution on CS, which promoted the interaction and condensation with DNA, as well as N-quaternization, which increased the CS water solubility. During cytotoxicity studies, it was found that high concentrations of TM(47)-Bz(42)-CS and TM(43)-CS could decrease the Huh7 cell viability. In conclusion, this novel CS derivative, TM(47)-Bz(42)-CS, shows promising potential as a gene carrier by efficient DNA condensation and a mediated higher level of gene transfection in Huh7 cells.