[Activated radical species of oxygen]

Photodynamic Therapy:In VitroPhotosensitizing Efficacy of Bis(tri-n-hexylsiloxy)silicon Phthalocyanine against Achromic M6 Melanocytes. ESR Study of Active Oxygen Intermediates

The in vitro photodynamic effect of bis(tri-n-hexylsiloxy)silicon phthalocyanine has been evaluated against the melanotic M6 cell line. The results showed that at 10-5M dose, LD50is obtained for a 150 J cm-2light dose and LD90for 540 J cm-2. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy was used with spin traps to study the type I and type II photochemical pathways involved and to detect active oxygen intermediates such as singlet oxygen, oxygen superoxide and hydroxyl radical. The two mechanisms occurred simultaneously and no change was observed when the phthalocyanine was entrapped in liposomes.

La radiolyse de l'eau et des solutions aqueuses : historique et actualité

Experiments showing that water is decomposed by the action of high-energy radiations date back to the first days of the discovery of radioactivity, a century ago. On the occasion of this anniversary, we have attempted to give a comprehensive account of the radiation chemistry of water and its solutions since its origin, with special emphasis on the various physical and chemical stages that led to the present state of this science. To this aim, we describe the effect of different intervening factors on the molecular and radical yields, including dissolved solute concentration, pH, radiation intensity (or dose rate), type and energy of the radiation, presence of oxygen, temperature, phase, and pressure. We also discuss briefly the chemical behavior of the free radicals produced in radiolyzed aqueous solutions. A good, albeit incomplete, description of the phenomena is obtained that leads to various perspectives concerning, on the one hand, the development of this science and, on the other hand, its potential for applications.Key words : radical chemistry, dilution curve, water, hydrated electron, hydroxyl and superoxide radicals, free radicals, radiolysis, chain reactions, molecular and radical yields, cell survival, linear energy transfer.

The role of oxygen in the antiviral activity of hypericin and hypocrellin

The light-induced antiviral activity of hypericin and hypocrellin in the presence and absence of oxygen was examined under experimental conditions where the effect of oxygen depletion could be quantified. There was a significant reduction of light-induced antiviral activity of hypericin and hypocrellin under hypoxic conditions. Interestingly, antiviral activity of hypocrellin was not observed at low oxygen levels at which hypericin retained measurable virucidal activity. This suggests that additional pathways, such as the generation of protons from excited states of hypericin, may enhance the biological activity of activated oxygen species.

ESR studies of a series of phthalocyanines. Mechanism of phototoxicity. Comparative quantitation of O2-. using ESR spin-trapping and cytochrome c reduction techniques

ESR experiments with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone (4-oxo-TEMP) and the spin-trap 5,5-dimethyl pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) have been performed on a series of new phthalocyanines: the bis(tri-n-hexylsiloxy) silicon phthalocyanine ([(nhex)3SiO]2SiPc), the hexadecachloro zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPcCl16), the hexadecachloro aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPcCl16), the hexadecachloro aluminum phthalocyanine sulfate (HSO4AlPcCl16), whose photocytotoxicity has been studied against various leukemic and melanotic cell lines. Type I and Type II pathways occur simultaneously in DMF although the Type II seems to be prevalent. These results are not changed when the bis(tri-n-hexylsiloxy) silicon phthalocyanine is entrapped into liposomes. By contrast, the Type I process is favored in membrane models for all the perchlorinated phthalocyanines. This modified behavior may be accounted on a possible stacking of phthalocyanines in membranes and a preventing effect of axial ligands against aggregation in the case of the bis(tri-n-hexylsiloxy) silicon phthalocyanine. The photodynamic action of zinc perchlorinated phthalocyanine is not dependent on singlet oxygen, phototoxicity of this molecule being essentially mediated by oxygen free radicals. Quantitation of the superoxide radical was accomplished, with good agreement, by two techniques: the cytochrome c reduction and the ESR quantitation based on the double integration of the first derivative of the ESR signal. The disproportionation of the superoxide radical or degradation of the spin-trap seem to be avoided in aprotic solvents such as DMF.

Interest of photochemical methods for induction of lipid peroxidation

Lipid peroxidation, which plays a part in a wide variety of biological processes, is an integral process in the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids via a radical chain reaction. Among the various species which may induce this reaction in vivo, reactive forms of oxygen such as peroxide anion, the hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen are of cardinal importance. These species may be generated enzymatically, chemically or by various radiochemical and photochemical reactions. We present here the advantages of photochemical induction of peroxidation, and we describe the principles of the reactions, the photosensitizers that can be employed to generate the various reactive species of oxygen, and the techniques, direct (ESR) or indirect (specific traps), used to detect the reactive species. Photosensitization can induce the formation of a whole gamut of products of lipid peroxidation: conjugated dienes, aldehydes, hydroperoxides, etc. The relative proportions of the various hydroperoxides of fatty acids or cholesterol depend on the nature of the reactive species involved. Utilization of photochemical reactions is an effective and clean way of inducing peroxidation, allowing fine control of both initiation and orientation.

Redox cycling of potential antitumor aziridinyl quinones

The formation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) during redox cycling of newly synthesized potential antitumor 2,5-bis (1-aziridinyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (BABQ) derivatives has been studied by assaying the production of ROI (superoxide, hydroxyl radical, and hydrogen peroxide) by xanthine oxidase in the presence of BABQ derivatives. At low concentrations (< 10 microM) some BABQ derivatives turned out to inhibit the production of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals by xanthine oxidase, while the effect on the xanthine-oxidase-induced production of hydrogen peroxide was much less pronounced. Induction of DNA strand breaks by reactive oxygen species generated by xanthine oxidase was also inhibited by BABQ derivatives. The DNA damage was comparable to the amount of hydroxyl radicals produced. The inhibiting effect on hydroxyl radical production can be explained as a consequence of the lowered level of superoxide, which disrupts the Haber-Weiss reaction sequence. The inhibitory effect of BABQ derivatives on superoxide formation correlated with their one-electron reduction potentials: BABQ derivatives with a high reduction potential scavenge superoxide anion radicals produced by xanthine oxidase, leading to reduced BABQ species and production of hydrogen peroxide from reoxidation of reduced BABQ. This study, using a unique series of BABQ derivatives with an extended range of reduction potentials, demonstrates that the formation of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals by bioreductively activated antitumor quinones can in principle be uncoupled from alkylating activity.