Photodynamic inactivation of bacteria: Why it is not enough to excite a photosensitizer.

BACKGROUND: The development of multidrug resistance (MDR) in infectious agents is one of the most serious global problems facing humanity. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) shows encouraging results in the fight against MDR pathogens, including those in biofilms. METHODS: Photosensitizers (PS), monocationic methylene blue, polycationic and polyanionic derivatives of phthalocyanines, electroneutral and polycationic derivatives of bacteriochlorin were used to study photodynamic inactivation of Gram-positive and Gram-negative planktonic bacteria and biofilms under LED irradiation. Zeta potential measurements, confocal fluorescence imaging, and coarse-grained modeling were used to evaluate the interactions of PS with bacteria. PS aggregation and photobleaching were studied using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. RESULTS: The main approaches to ensure high efficiency of bacteria photosensitization are analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: PS must maintain a delicate balance between binding to exocellular and external structures of bacterial cells and penetration through the cell wall so as not to get stuck on the way to photooxidation-sensitive structures of the bacterial cell.

Photodynamic therapy of lung cancer with photosensitizers based on polycationic derivatives of synthetic bacteriochlorin (experimental study).

BACKGROUND: One of the tasks of anticancer photodynamic therapy is increasing the efficacy of treatment of cancer nodes with large (clinically relevant) sizes using near-infrared photosensitizers (PS). METHODS: The anticancer efficacy and mechanisms of the photodynamic action of PS based on polycationic derivatives of synthetic bacteriochlorin against Lewis lung carcinoma were studied in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: It was found that studied PS have high phototoxicity against Lewis lung carcinoma cells: the IC50 values were about 0.8 µM for tetracationic PS and 0.5 µM for octacationic PS. In vivo studies have shown that these PS provide effective inhibition of the tumor growth with an increase in the lifespan of mice in the group by more than 130%, and more than 50% survival of mice in the group. CONCLUSIONS: Photosensitizers based on polycationic derivatives of synthetic bacteriochlorin have high photodynamic efficacy caused by the induction of necrosis and apoptosis of cancer cells, including cancer stem cells, and a sharp decrease of mitotic and proliferative activity. Studied polycationic photosensitizers are much more effective at destroying cancer stem cells and newly formed cancer vessels in comparison with anionic photosensitizers, and ensure the cessation of tumor blood flow without hemorrhages and thrombosis.

Antitumor activity of photodynamic therapy with tetracationic derivative of synthetic bacteriochlorin in spheroid culture of liver and colon cancer cells.

Efficient screening of photosensitizers (PS) as well as studying their photodynamic activity, especially PS excited in the near-infrared region, require informative in vitro models to adequately reflect the architecture, thickness, and intercellular interactions in tumors. In our study, we used spheroids formed from human colon cancer HCT-116 cells and liver cancer Huh7 cells to assess the phototoxicity of a new PS based on tetracationic derivative of synthetic bacteriochlorin (BC4). We optimized conditions for the irradiation regime based on the kinetics of BC4 accumulation in spheroids and kinetics of spheroid growth. Although PS accumulated more efficiently in HCT-116 cells, characterized by more aggressive growth and high proliferative potential, they were less susceptible to the photodynamic therapy (PDT) compared to the slower growing Huh7 cells. We also showed that 3D models of spheroids were less sensitive to BC4 than conventional 2D cultures with relatively identical kinetics of drug accumulation. Our findings suggest that BC4 is a perspective agent for photodynamic therapy against cancer cells.

On the mechanisms of photodynamic action of photosensitizers based on polycationic derivatives of synthetic bacteriochlorin against human lung cancer cells A549 (in vitro study).

BACKGROUND: One of the tasks of anticancer photodynamic therapy is increasing the efficacy of treatment of cancer nodes with large (clinically relevant) sizes using near-infrared photosensitizers (PS). We study the photodynamic action against A549 human lung cancer cells using PS based on polycationic derivatives of synthetic bacteriochlorin. METHODS: The efficacy and mechanisms of the photodynamic action of PS based on polycationic derivatives of synthetic bacteriochlorin against A549 lung cancer cells were studied in vitro using immunocytochemical and morphological methods. RESULTS: It was found that PS based on tetracationic and octacationic derivatives of synthetic bacteriochlorin induce necrosis, apoptosis, decreasing of proliferative and mitotic activity, as well as reducing the number of ALDH1-positive cancer cells with signs of stem cells in A549 human lung cancer cell culture. The IC50 values (concentration of a PS that reduces cells survival by 50%) were about 0.69 µM for tetracationic PS and 0.57 µM for octacationic PS under irradiation at 30 J/cm2 while in the "dark" control they were higher than 100 µM for both PSs. CONCLUSIONS: Photosensitizers based on polycationic derivatives of synthetic bacteriochlorin have high phototoxicity against A549 cancer cells caused by the induction of necrosis and apoptosis of cancer cells, including cells with signs of stemness, and a sharp decrease of mitotic and proliferative activity.

Direct Synthesis of an Unprecedented Stable Radical of Nickel(II) 3,5-Bis(dimedonyl)azadiisoindomethene with Strong and Narrow Near-Infrared Absorption at λ ∼ 1000 nm.

An unprecedented stable neutral radical nickel(II) complex of 3,5-bis(dimedonyl)azadiisoindomethene (1) was prepared by the direct reaction between 1,3-diiminoisoindoline and dimedone. A new radical complex 1 has an intense and narrow absorption at 1008 nm and can be reduced to a less stable anionic [1]- with a typical aza(dibenzo)boron dipyrromethene (aza-BODIPY) UV-vis spectrum. Complex 1, along with two other colored condensation reaction products 2 and 3, was characterized by spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, while the paramagnetic nature of 1 was probed by EPR and SQUID methods. Complex 1 forms dimers in the solid state with short (∼3.16 Å) Ni---Ni contacts. Redox data on 1 are indicative of a reversible reduction process in this complex; its magnetism suggests a S = 1/2 state with the spin density delocalized over the aza-BODIPY core. The experimental data 1 and [1]- were correlated with the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations.

Photophysical properties and in vitro and in vivo photoinduced antitumor activity of cationic salts of meso-tetrakis(N-alkyl-3-pyridyl)bacteriochlorins.

Physico-chemical properties, biodistribution in animal tissues, and PDT efficacy of bacteriochlorin photosensitizers, namely cationic salts of synthetic meso-tetrakis(N-alkyl-3-pyridyl)bacteriochlorins were studied in НЕр2 cell line and in the LLC mouse model. The tested compounds showed high stability in the dark and high in vitro phototoxicity against НЕр2 cells (the half maximal inhibitory concentration LD50 in the range from 0.34±0.03 to 1.5±0.03µm). Synthetic bacteriochlorins rapidly accumulate in mouse tumor tissue with tumor-to-normal tissue fluorescence contrast ratios of 2.3-3.3, possess high PDT activity against LLC cells: inhibition of tumor growth, TGI 85.8-100%, increase in life span, ILS 105.7-129.2%, response rate, RR 50-100%. The highest PDT efficacy was found for meso-tetrakis[1-(4'-bromobutyl)-3-pyridyl]bacteriochlorin tetrabromide (IC50 0.34±0.03µm in vitro, TGI and RR 100% in vivo).

Alternative selection rules for one- and two-photon transitions in tribenzotetraazachlorin: quasi-centrosymmetrical π-conjugation pathway of formally non-centrosymmetrical molecule.

We compare the two-photon absorption (2PA) spectra of non-centrosymmetrical metal-free tribenzo-tetraazachlorin (H2TBTAC) and analogous symmetrical tetra-tert-butyl-phthalocyanine (H2TtBuPc). Surprisingly, despite formal lack of center of inversion, the 2PA spectrum of H2TBTAC displays a two-photon allowed transition at 935 nm, similar to gerade-gerade (g-g) transitions observed in H2TtBuPc and in other symmetrical phthalocyanines. This transition is even better resolved in the singlet-singlet excited-state absorption spectrum. We tentatively explain the survival of the g-g transition in H2TBTAC by assuming that the main π-electron conjugation pathway in the tetraaza-substituted tetrapyrrole macrocycle bypasses the outer parts of the two oppositely located isoindole rings and thus renders the optically responsive core of the chromophore quasi-centrosymmetrical. By using the independently measured ground- and excited-state absorption extinction coefficients, we also show that the two-photon absorptivity can be quantitatively explained by a simple three-level model with the lowest energy Q1 state serving as an intermediate level.

Unexpected formation of the nickel seco-tribenzoporphyrazine with a tribenzotetraazachlorin-type absorption spectrum.

Minor products in the reaction between substituted 1,3-diiminoisoindolines and 2,5-diamino-3,4-dicyanothiophene were identified as the nickel seco-tribenzoporphyrazines 4 and 5, which have been characterized by UV-vis, MCD, NMR, and mass spectroscopy. Experimentally observed tetraazachlorin-type UV-vis spectra of new seco-tribenzoporphyrazines were explained on the basis of DFT and TDDFT calculations.

Synthesis and spectroscopic and electrochemical studies of pyrazine- or pyridine-ring-fused tetraazachlorins, bacteriochlorins, and isobacteriochlorins.

Mixed condensation of tetramethylsuccinonitrile and either 2,3-dicyano-5,6-diethylpyrazine, 2,3-dicyanopyridine, or 3,4-pyridinedicarboximide in the presence of nickel chloride forms novel pyrazine-, 2,3-pyridine-, or 3,4-pyridine-ring-fused tetraazachlorin (TAC), tetraazabacteriochlorin (TABC), and tetraazaisobacteriochlorin (TAiBC) derivatives. All possible structural isomers were separated using repeated thin-layer chromatography and have been investigated by absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy. Similarly to previously reported TAC analogues, the TAC and TABC derivatives show large splitting of the Q band, while a single, intense absorption band is observed for the TAiBC derivatives. Although the absorption spectra are practically identical in shape for the separated structural isomers of TACs and TABCs, the Q-band maxima of the TAiBCs depend significantly on their structures. The observed spectroscopic properties were interpreted on the basis of electrochemical data and the results of (time-dependent) DFT calculations.

meso-Aryl tribenzosubporphyrin--a totally substituted subporphyrin species.

meso-Aryl tribenzosubporphyrin was synthesized by a self-condensation of 3-benzalphthalimidine and by a condensation of phthalimide with phenylacetic acid using boric acid as a template; the compounds derived were characterized based on a wide range of spectroscopic and electrochemical methods.

Preparation, characterization, molecular and electronic structures, TDDFT, and TDDFT/PCM study of the solvatochromism in cyanovinylferrocenes.

Cis and trans isomers of ferrocene-based donor-acceptor assemblies, Fc-C(I)=CH(I), Fc-C(I)=CH(CN), and Fc-C(CN)=CH(CN) (Fc is ferrocene), along with the Fc-C(CN)=C(CN)2 complex have been prepared and characterized by 1H, 13C, gHMQC, and gHMBC NMR spectra, IR, UV-vis, and MCD spectroscopy methods, as well as elemental analyses. The oxidation potentials, investigated by cyclic voltammetry, of all donor-acceptor assemblies are in agreement with the electron-acceptor strength of the substituents attached to the ferrocene core. X-ray crystallography studies of cis and trans isomers of Fc-C(I)=CH(CN) and Fc-C(CN)=CH(CN) reveal a significant rotational flexibility of the cyanovinyl group, which was explained on the basis of semiempirical PM3 calculations. Electronic structures and solvatochromic properties of all complexes were investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT), time-dependent DFT (TDDFT), and polarized continuum model (PCM) TDDFT approaches. The calculated vertical excitation energies and magnitudes of solvatochromic effect are consistent with the experimental data and clearly suggest the dominance of metal-to-ligand charge-transfer bands in the visible region of the UV-vis spectra for all complexes.

Porphyrins in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions. Synthesis of new porphyrin-chlorin and porphyrin-tetraazachlorin dyads.

N-(Porphyrin-2-ylmethyl)glycine was synthesized and used as precursor of azomethine ylide, which was trapped with several dipolarophiles. The reaction of that azomethine ylide with dimethyl fumarate afforded the expected adduct. However, with 1,4-benzo- and 1,4-naphthoquinones only dehydrogenated adducts were isolated. Also, the reaction of that ylide with meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin and tetraazaporphine allowed access to novel porphyrin-chlorin and porphyrin-tetraazachlorin dyads.

Synthesis, spectroscopic, and electrochemical studies of 1,2-naphthalene-ring-fused tetraazachlorins, -bacteriochlorins, and -isobacteriochlorins: the separation and characterization of structural isomers.

1,2-Naphthalene-ring-expanded tetraazachlorins (TACs), tetraazabacteriochlorins (TABCs), and tetraazaisobacteriochlorins (TAiBCs) have been synthesized. Procedures for the synthesis of the starting materials, that is, derivatives of 1,2-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, have been reinvestigated and improved. Nine possible derivatives, including four, two, and three structural isomers of TACs, TABCs, and TAiBCs, respectively, were separated by using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the structure of each isomer was determined by (1)H NMR spectroscopy combined with the NOE technique. The formation ratio of each isomer was rationalized in terms of the intramolecular steric repulsion effect, which was predicted by geometry optimizations at the DFT level. The derived compounds were characterized by using IR, electronic, and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy, and by electrochemical methods. Frequency calculations at the DFT level correctly reproduced the experimental IR spectra and, in particular, distinguished between the three isomers of the TAiBCs. In the electronic absorption and MCD spectra of the TAC and TABC species, the Q-band splits into two intense components similarly to the 2,3-naphthalene-fused derivatives described in our preceding paper, although no significant spectral differences were observed from species to species. On the other hand, the spectra of the TAiBCs showed moderate differences depending on the structure of the isomer. The spectroscopic properties as well as the electrochemical behavior of these chlorins resemble those of the corresponding benzene-fused derivatives rather than the 2,3-naphthalene-fused derivatives. Molecular-orbital and configuration-interaction calculations within the framework of the ZINDO/S method were helpful in the discussions of the above observations.

Synthesis and spectroscopic and electrochemical studies of novel benzo- or 2,3-naphtho-fused tetraazachlorins, bacteriochlorins, and isobacteriochlorins.

Benzene- or 2,3-naphthalene-ring-expanded tetraazachlorins (TACs), tetraazabacteriochlorins (TABCs), and tetraazaisobacteriochlorins (TAiBCs) have been synthesized by using tetramethylsuccinonitrile as a source of hydrogenated sites. The derived compounds were characterized by using NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, electronic and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy, and electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. X-ray analysis revealed that the benzene-fused TAiBC deviates slightly from planarity at the hydrogenated sites as a result of the presence of sp(3) carbons, which prefer a nonplanar tetrahedral conformation. The spectral data were analyzed by using a band deconvolution technique. In the electronic absorption spectra of TAC and TABC species, the Q band splits into two intense components and smaller splittings were observed for the 2,3-naphthalene-fused derivatives relative to the benzo-fused species. In contrast, in the case of TAiBCs, the Q band splitting was apparently not observed in absorption spectra, as expected from the C(2v) molecular symmetry. However, MCD signals of the Q band in TAiBCs showed Faraday B terms, implying that the accidental degeneracy of the LUMO and LUMO+1 was broken even for adjacently ring-fused species. Relative molecular orbital energies were estimated by using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. The first reduction potentials were close for TACs and TABCs, although those of TAiBCs shifted to more negative potentials. In contrast, although TABCs and TAiBCs exhibited similar first oxidation potentials, those of TACs appeared at more positive potentials. These properties were reproduced and rationalized by molecular orbital and configuration interaction calculations within the framework of the ZINDO/S Hamiltonian. DFT-level frequency calculations have succeeded in reproducing the IR spectra for low-symmetry tetraazaporphyrin (TAP) derivatives for the first time. The relationship between structures and spectral features is discussed.

Spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and molecular orbital calculations of metal-free tetraazaporphyrin, -chlorin, -bacteriochlorin, and -isobacteriochlorin.

Metal-free tetraazachlorin (TAC), -bacteriochlorin (TAB), and -isobacteriochlorin (TAiB) were characterized by electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), fluorescence, and time-resolved ESR (TR-ESR) spectroscopy, and by cyclic voltammetry. The results are compared with those of metal-free tetraazaporphyrin (TAP). The potential difference DeltaE between the first oxidation and reduction couples decreases in the order TAP>TAiB>TAC>TAB. The splitting of both the Q and Soret bands decreases in the order TAB>TAC>TAP>TAiB. Corresponding to the split absorption bands, MCD spectra show a minus-to-plus pattern with increasing energy in both the Q and Soret regions, which suggests that the energy difference between the HOMO and second HOMO is larger than that between the LUMO and second LUMO. These spectroscopic properties and redox potentials were reproduced by molecular orbital calculations using the ZINDO/S Hamiltonian. The fluorescence quantum yields of the reduced species are much smaller than that of TAP. The zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters D and E of the excited triplet states (T1) of these species decrease and increase, respectively, on going from TAP to TAC and further to TAB. The D and E values of TAiB are larger than those of the other species. The results are supported by the absence of interaction between the spin over reduced pyrrole moieties of the HOMO and over the LUMO, and by calculations of ZFS under a half-point-charge approximation.