RESUMEN

To investigate the impact of mono- and di-ß-galactose moieties in tumor uptake and photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy, HPPH [3-(1'-hexyloxy)ethyl-3-devinylpyropheophorobide-a], the meso pyropheophorbide-a [3-ethyl-3-devinyl-pyropheophorbide-a], and the corresponding 20-benzoic acid analogs were used as starting materials. Reaction of the intermediates containing one or two carboxylic acid functionalities with 1-aminogalactose afforded the desired 172- or 20(4')- mono- and 172, 20(4')-di galactose conjugated photosensitizers (PSs) with and without a carboxylic acid group. The overall lipophilicity caused by the presence of galactose in combination with either an ethyl or (1'-hexyloxy)ethyl side chain at position-3 of the macrocycle made a significant difference in in vitro uptake by tumor cells and photoreaction upon light exposure. Interestingly, among the PSs investigated, compared to HPPH 1 the carbohydrate conjugates 2 and 11 in which ß-galactose moieties are conjugated at positions 172 and 20(4') of meso-pyro pheophorbide-a showed similar in vitro efficacy in FaDu cell lines, but in SCID mice bearing FaDu tumors (head & neck) Ps 11 gave significantly improved long-term tumor cure.

RESUMEN

3-(1'-Hexyloxyethyl)-3-devinylpyropheophorbide-a (HPPH or Photochlor), a tumor-avid chlorophyll a derivative currently undergoing human clinical trials, was conjugated with mono-, di-, and tri-Gd(III)tetraxetan (DOTA) moieties. The T1/T2 relaxivity and in vitro PDT efficacy of these conjugates were determined. The tumor specificity of the most promising conjugate was also investigated at various time points in mice and rats bearing colon tumors, as well as rabbits bearing widespread metastases from VX2 systemic arterial disseminated metastases. All the conjugates showed significant T1 and T2 relaxivities. However, the conjugate containing 3-Gd(III)-aminoethylamido-DOTA at position 17 of HPPH demonstrated great potential for tumor imaging by both MR and fluorescence while maintaining its PDT efficacy. At an MR imaging dose (10 µmol/kg), HPPH-3Gd(III)DOTA did not cause any significant organ toxicity in mice, indicating its potential as a cancer imaging (MR and fluorescence) agent with an option to treat cancer by photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Asunto(s)

Neoplasias del Colon , Fotoquimioterapia , Animales , Clorofila/análogos & derivados , Clorofila/farmacología , Clorofila A , Neoplasias del Colon/diagnóstico por imagen , Neoplasias del Colon/tratamiento farmacológico , Compuestos Heterocíclicos con 1 Anillo , Humanos , Ratones , Fotoquimioterapia/métodos , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/farmacología , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/uso terapéutico , Conejos , Ratas

RESUMEN

A series of meso-biphenyl linked chlorin and bacteriochlorin dimers, derived from naturally occurring chlorophyll (Chl-a) and bacteriochlorophyll (BChl-a) were synthesized in 32 % to 44 % yields and characterized, as photosynthetic antenna mimics, and a new class of singlet oxygen producing agents. The dimers are characterized by absorption, fluorescence, electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical and computational methods to evaluate their physico-chemical properties, and to identify ground and excited state interactions. Evidence of excited energy exchange among the chromophores in the dimer is derived from femtosecond transient absorption spectral studies. Rate constants for excitation hopping were in the order of 1011  s-1 , indicating occurrence of efficient processes. Nanosecond transient absorption studies confirmed relaxation of the singlet excited chlorin and bacteriochlorin dimers to their corresponding triplet states (3 Chl* and 3 Bchl*). As predicted by the established energy level diagrams, both 3 Chl* and 3 Bchl* are shown to be capable of producing singlet oxygen with appreciable quantum yields (ϕSO ∼0.3).

RESUMEN

Erlotinib was covalently linked to 3-(1'-hexyloxy)ethyl-3-devinylpyropheophorbide-a (HPPH) and structurally related chlorins and bacteriochlorins at different positions of the tetrapyrrole ring. The functional consequence of each modification was determined by quantifying the uptake and subcellular deposition of the erlotinib conjugates, cellular response to therapeutic light treatment in tissue cultures, and in eliminating of corresponding tumors grown as a xenograft in SCID mice. The experimental human cancer models the established cell lines UMUC3 (bladder), FaDu (hypopharynx), and primary cultures of head and neck tumor cells. The effectiveness of the compounds was compared to that of HPPH. Furthermore, specific functional contribution of the carboxylic acid side group at position 172 and the chiral methyl group at 3(1') to the overall activity of the chimeric compounds was assessed. Among the conjugates investigated, the PS 10 was identified as the most effective candidate for achieving tumor cell-specific accumulation and yielding improved long-term tumor control.

Asunto(s)

Clorhidrato de Erlotinib/química , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/síntesis química , Porfirinas/química , Animales , Línea Celular Tumoral , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Técnicas de Cocultivo , Femenino , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/mortalidad , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Humanos , Ratones , Ratones SCID , Fotoquimioterapia , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/química , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/farmacología , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/uso terapéutico , Estereoisomerismo , Relación Estructura-Actividad , Tasa de Supervivencia

RESUMEN

A series of chlorin-bacteriochlorin dyads (derived from naturally occurring chlorophyll-a and bacteriochlorophyll-a), covalently connected either through the meso-aryl or ß-pyrrole position (position-3) via an ester linkage have been synthesized and characterized as a new class of far-red emitting fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging, and heavy atom-lacking singlet oxygen-producing agents. From systematic absorption, fluorescence, electrochemical, and computational studies, the role of chlorin as an energy donor and bacteriochlorin as an energy acceptor in these wide-band-capturing dyads was established. Efficiency of FRET evaluated from spectral overlap was found to be 95 and 98 % for the meso-linked and ß-pyrrole-linked dyads, respectively. Furthermore, evidence for the occurrence of FRET from singlet-excited chlorin to bacteriochlorin was secured from studies involving femtosecond transient absorption studies in toluene. The measured FRET rate constants, kFRET , were in the order of 1011  s-1 , suggesting the occurrence of ultrafast energy transfer in these dyads. Nanosecond transient absorption studies confirmed relaxation of the energy transfer product, 1 BChl*, to its triplet state, 3 Bchl*. The 3 Bchl* thus generated was capable of producing singlet oxygen with quantum yields comparable to their monomeric entities. The occurrence of efficient FRET emitting in the far-red region and the ability to produce singlet oxygen make the present series of dyads useful for photonic, imaging and therapy applications.

Asunto(s)

Transferencia Resonante de Energía de Fluorescencia , Porfirinas , Pirroles , Oxígeno Singlete

RESUMEN

Herein we report the synthesis, photophysical properties, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy of methyl 3-(1'-m-iodobenzyloxy)ethyl-3-devinyl-verdin 4 (with or without the 124 I isotope). The PET imaging ability and ex vivo biodistribution of [124 I]4 were compared with the well-studied methyl [3-(124 1'-m-iodobenzyloxy)ethyl]-3-devinyl-pyropheophorbide-a methyl ester (PET-ONCO or [124 I]2) and [18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([18 F]FDG) in BALB/c mice bearing colon-26 tumors. Whole-body PET images of [124 I]4 containing a fused methoxy cyclohexenone ring system showed excellent tumor contrast with time (72>48>24 h post-injection). Ex vivo biodistribution results indicate that relative to the current clinical standard [18 F]FDG and [124 I]2 in 2 % ethanol formulation, [124 I]4, at the same radioactive dose (25 µCi per mouse), showed higher tumor uptake at 24 h post-injection and longer tumor retention. In biological environments, compound 4 showed lower fluorescence and lower singlet oxygen yield than 2, which is possibly due to higher aggregation caused by the presence of a fused cyclohexenone ring system, resulting in limited in vitro/in vivo PDT efficacy. Therefore, the chlorophyll-a analogue [124 I]4 provides easy access to a novel PET imaging agent (with no skin phototoxicity) to image cancer types-brain, renal carcinomas, pancreas-in which [18 F]FDG shows limitations.

Asunto(s)

Neoplasias del Colon/diagnóstico por imagen , Neoplasias del Colon/tratamiento farmacológico , Medios de Contraste/farmacología , Ciclohexanonas/farmacología , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/farmacología , Porfirinas/farmacología , Animales , Medios de Contraste/síntesis química , Medios de Contraste/farmacocinética , Medios de Contraste/efectos de la radiación , Ciclohexanonas/síntesis química , Ciclohexanonas/farmacocinética , Ciclohexanonas/efectos de la radiación , Femenino , Luz , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Fotoquimioterapia , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/síntesis química , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/farmacocinética , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/efectos de la radiación , Porfirinas/síntesis química , Porfirinas/farmacocinética , Porfirinas/efectos de la radiación

RESUMEN

The in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of iodinated photosensitizers (PSs) with and without an erlotinib moiety was investigated in UMUC3 [epidermal growth factor (EGFR)-positive] and T24 (EGFR-low) cell lines and tumored mice. Both the erlotinib-conjugated PSs 3 and 5 showed EGFR target specificity, but the position-3 erlotinib-PS conjugate 3 demonstrated lower photodynamic therapy efficacy than the corresponding non-erlotinib analogue 1, whereas the conjugate 5 containing an erlotinib moiety at position-17 of the PS showed higher tumor uptake and long-term tumor cure (severe combined immunodeficient mice bearing UMUC3 tumors). PS-erlotinib conjugates in the absence of light were ineffective in vitro and in vivo, but robust apoptotic and necrotic cell death was observed in bladder cancer cells after exposing them to a laser light at 665 nm. In contrast to 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose, a positron emission tomography agent, the position-17 erlotinib conjugate (124I-analogue 6) showed enhanced UMUC3 tumor contrast even at a low imaging dose of 15 µCi/mouse.

Asunto(s)

Fotoquimioterapia , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/farmacología , Neoplasias de la Vejiga Urinaria/diagnóstico por imagen , Neoplasias de la Vejiga Urinaria/tratamiento farmacológico , Animales , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos/uso terapéutico , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Línea Celular Tumoral , Receptores ErbB/efectos de los fármacos , Clorhidrato de Erlotinib/farmacología , Clorhidrato de Erlotinib/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Ratones , Ratones SCID , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/uso terapéutico , Tomografía de Emisión de Positrones , Neoplasias de la Vejiga Urinaria/patología , Ensayos Antitumor por Modelo de Xenoinjerto

RESUMEN

The tetrapyrrole structure of porphyrins used as photosentizing agents is thought to determine uptake and retention by malignant epithelial cancer cells. To assess the contribution of the oxidized state of individual rings to these cellular processes, bacteriochlorophyll a was converted into the ring "D" reduced 3-devinyl-3-[1-(1-hexyloxy)ethyl]pyropheophorbide-a (HPPH) and the corresponding ring "B" reduced isomer (iso-HPPH). The carboxylic acid analogs of both ring "B" and ring "D" reduced isomers showed several-fold higher accumulation into the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum by primary culture of human lung and head and neck cancer cells than the corresponding methyl ester analogs that localize primarily to granular vesicles and to a lesser extent to mitochondria. However, long-term cellular retention of these compounds exhibited an inverse relationship with tumor cells generally retaining better the methyl-ester derivatives. In vivo distribution and tumor uptake was evaluated in the isogenic model of BALB/c mice bearing Colon26 tumors using the respective 14C-labeled analogs. Both carboxylic acid derivatives demonstrated similar intracellular localization and long-term tumor cure with no significant skin phototoxicity. PDT-mediated tumor action involved vascular damage, which was confirmed by a reduction in blood flow and immunohistochemical assessment of damage to the vascular endothelium. The HPPH stereoisomers (epimers) showed identical uptake (in vitro & in vivo), intracellular retention and photoreaction.

Asunto(s)

Clorofila/análogos & derivados , Fotoquimioterapia , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/farmacología , Animales , Línea Celular Tumoral , Clorofila/química , Clorofila/metabolismo , Clorofila/farmacología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/metabolismo , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Humanos , Isomerismo , Neoplasias Pulmonares/metabolismo , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Estructura Molecular , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/metabolismo

RESUMEN

We report herein the synthesis and biological efficacy of near-infrared (NIR), bacteriochlorin analogues: 3-(1'-butyloxy)ethyl-3-deacetyl-bacteriopurpurin-18-N-butylimide methyl ester (3) and the corresponding carboxylic acid 10. In in vitro assays, compared to its methyl ester analogue 3, the corresponding carboxylic acid derivative 10 showed higher photosensitizing efficacy. However, due to drastically different pharmacokinetics in vivo, the PS 3 (HPLC purity >99%) showed higher tumor uptake and long-term tumor cure than 10 (HPLC purity >96.5%) in BALB/c mice bearing Colon 26 tumors. Isomerically pure R- and S- isomers of 3 (3a and 3b, purity by HPLC > 99%) under similar treatment parameters showed identical efficacy in vitro and in vivo. In addition, photosensitizer (PS) 3 showed limited skin phototoxicity and provides an additional advantage over the clinically approved chemically complex hematoporphyrin derivative as well as other porphyrin-based PDT agents, which makes 3 a promising dual-function agent for fluorescence-guided surgery with an option of phototherapy of cancer.

Asunto(s)

Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Fluorescencia , Rayos Infrarrojos , Fotoquimioterapia , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/farmacología , Porfirinas/farmacología , Animales , Antineoplásicos/síntesis química , Antineoplásicos/química , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Ensayos de Selección de Medicamentos Antitumorales , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Estructura Molecular , Neoplasias Experimentales/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Experimentales/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Experimentales/patología , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/síntesis química , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/química , Porfirinas/síntesis química , Porfirinas/química , Relación Estructura-Actividad , Células Tumorales Cultivadas

RESUMEN

We have previously shown that the (124)I-analog of methyl 3-(1'-m-iodobenzyloxy) ethyl-3-devinyl-pyropheophorbide-a derived as racemic mixture from chlorophyll-a can be used for PET (positron emission tomography)-imaging in animal tumor models. On the other hand, as a non-radioactive analog, it showed excellent fluorescence and photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy. Thus, a single agent in a mixture of radioactive ((124)I-) and non-radioactive ((127)I) material can be used for both dual-imaging and PDT of cancer. Before advancing to Phase I human clinical trials, we evaluated the activity of the individual isomers as well as the impact of a chiral center at position-3(1) in directing in vitro/in vivo cellular uptake, intracellular localization, epithelial tumor cell-specific retention, fluorescence/PET imaging, and photosensitizing ability. The results indicate that both isomers (racemates), either as methyl ester or carboxylic acid, were equally effective. However, the methyl ester analogs, due to subcellular deposition into vesicular structures, were preferentially retained. All derivatives containing carboxylic acid at the position-17(2) were noted to be substrate for the ABCG2 (a member of the ATP binding cassette transporters) protein explaining their low retention in lung tumor cells expressing this transporter. The compounds in which the chirality at position-3 has been substituted by a non-chiral functionality showed reduced cellular uptake, retention and lower PDT efficacy in mice bearing murine Colon26 tumors.

Asunto(s)

Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/radioterapia , Clorofila/análogos & derivados , Neoplasias del Colon/radioterapia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/radioterapia , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/farmacología , Animales , Transporte Biológico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/patología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/ultraestructura , Línea Celular Tumoral , Clorofila/síntesis química , Clorofila/química , Clorofila/farmacología , Clorofila A , Neoplasias del Colon/metabolismo , Neoplasias del Colon/patología , Neoplasias del Colon/ultraestructura , Células Epiteliales/efectos de los fármacos , Células Epiteliales/metabolismo , Células Epiteliales/patología , Fibroblastos/efectos de los fármacos , Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Fibroblastos/patología , Humanos , Radioisótopos de Yodo , Neoplasias Pulmonares/metabolismo , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Neoplasias Pulmonares/ultraestructura , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Imagen Molecular/métodos , Trasplante de Neoplasias , Especificidad de Órganos , Fotoquimioterapia/métodos , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/síntesis química , Spirulina/química , Estereoisomerismo , Carga Tumoral/efectos de los fármacos

RESUMEN

Allomerization of bacteriochlorophyll a (Bchl a) was studied under various reaction conditions. Bchl a on stirring with KOH/propanol produced an "unstable bacteriochlorin", which decomposed in acidic conditions to give a complex mixture containing bacteriopurpurin a as a principal component. The yields of other compounds varied and were found to be dependent on reaction condition. The structures of the isolated porphyrins, chlorins, and bacteriochlorins, related to Bchl a, were assigned on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR (ROESY), and mass spectroscopy analyses. The presence of fused anhydride rings in porphyrin, chlorin, and bacterichlorin systems showed a significant influence on their optical properties. Compared to bacteriochlorophyll a and bacteriopheophytin, the related structurally modified analogues, e.g., the bacteriopurpurin a, 13(1)/15(1)-N-alkyl isoimide, and the imide analogues were found to be more stable with a significant difference in spectroscopic properties. Bacteriochlorins containing anhydride, imide, or isoimide cyclic rings demonstrated a significant bathochromic shift of their Q bands in their electronic absorption spectra. Under basic conditions the formation of the 12-hydroxymethyl, 12-formyl, and 12-methylene analogues as byproducts from the 12-methyl-bacteriopurpurin-N-hexylimide could be due to subsequent oxidation of the vinylogous enolate intermediates. To investigate the effect of the central metal in the electronic spectra, the stable bacteriopurpurin-18-N-hexylimide was converted to a series of metal complexes [Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pd(II)] by following the direct or transmetalation approaches. Compared to the free-base analogue, these complexes showed a remarkable shift in their electronic absorption spectra.

Asunto(s)

Antraquinonas/síntesis química , Bacterioclorofila A/química , Imidas/síntesis química , Porfirinas/química , Anhídridos/química , Espectrometría de Masas , Compuestos Organometálicos/síntesis química

RESUMEN

Reaction of meso-(2-formylvinyl)octaethylporphyrin with (CH3)3SiCN-Cu(OTf)2 produced unexpected 10(3)-trimethylsiloxyl and 10(3)-hydroxyl fused propenochlorins which, in H2SO4, underwent subsequent migration of the 8-ethyl group to the 10(3)-position of the exocyclic benzene ring to form a novel benzochlorin.

Asunto(s)

Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/síntesis química , Porfirinas/síntesis química , Cristalografía por Rayos X , Deuteroporfirinas/síntesis química , Deuteroporfirinas/química , Espectroscopía de Resonancia Magnética , Fotoquimioterapia , Fármacos Fotosensibilizantes/química , Porfirinas/química