Photo-triggerable liposomal drug delivery systems: from simple porphyrin insertion in the lipid bilayer towards supramolecular assemblies of lipid–porphyrin conjugates

Light-responsive liposomes are considered nowadays as one of the most promising nanoparticulate systems for the delivery and release of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in a spatio-temporal manner.

The synthesis of new potential photosensitizers. 1. Mono-carboxylic acid derivatives of tetraphenylporphyrin

ABSTRACT

A series of mono-alkylcarboxylic acid derivatives of tetraphenylporphyrin have been prepared. All the porphyrins were completely characterized by use of mass, 1H NMR, UV-visible, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Experimental log P were determined by use of reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography with use of log PRekker. These porphyrins are potential photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

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Dioxygen binding of water-soluble iron(ii) porphyrins in phosphate buffer at room temperature

Two water-soluble tris(2-aminoethylamine) (tren) capped iron porphyrins were synthesized. The stability of their dioxygen adducts was studied in phosphate buffer, leading to half-life times around 7 min for the oxygenated species.

Platinum(ii) complexes bearing 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene as building blocks for functionalized redox active porphyrins

Reactions of the cationic complex ions [PtMe(Me2SO)(PP)]+ (PP = dppf (1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) and dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane)) with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-pyridyl)-21H,23H-porphyrin (TpyP) led to the formation of the symmetrical tetraplatinated porphyrin complexes, [PtMe(PP)]4TpyP.X4 (PP = dppf, X = CF3SO3-, 3, and PP = dppe, X = BF4-, 5) containing the organometallic fragment [PtMe(PP)]. The precursor sulfoxide platinum complexes [PtMe(Me2SO)(dppf)]CF3SO3, 2 and [PtMe(Me2SO)(dppe)]BF4, 4, were prepared by halide abstraction from [PtMeCl(dppf)], 1, and by controlled protonolysis of [PtMe2(dppe)] respectively, in the presence of a small amount of dimethyl sulfoxide. All these starting platinum(II) compounds, as well as the porphyrin derivatives 3 and 5, were fully characterized through elemental analysis, 1H NMR mono- and bidimensional, 31P[1H], 31P-1H HMBC, UV/Vis absorption and photophysical measurements. The X-ray crystal structure of complex 1 has been determined. In order to ascertain the electronic influence of ferrocene, the spectroscopic and redox properties of 3 were compared with those of TPyP and of the analogous 5. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), 1H and 31P NMR data, and UV/Vis data, all suggest a certain degree of communication between the central porphyrin and the peripheral hetero-bimetallic fragments. In contrast, no detectable interaction among these peripheral groups seem to come into play. Unlikely from the porphyrin derivative 5, formation of well defined fluorescent mesoscopic ring structures was easily achieved by simple evaporation from diluted dichloromethane solutions of 3.

Molecular Energy and Electron Transfer Assemblies Made of Self-Organized Lipid-Porphyrin Bilayer Vesicles

Novel molecular energy and electron transfer assemblies in vesicular form, which are made of self-organized amphiphilic porphyrins bearing phospholipid-like substituents (lipid-porphyrins), have been photochemically characterized. Tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) derivatives with four dialkylphosphocholine groups [free-base (1 a), Zn(2+) complex (1 b), and Fe(3+) complex (1 c)] are spontaneously associated in water to form spherical unilamellar vesicles with a diameter of 100-150 nm. Exciton calculations based on the bilayered sheet model of 1 b, which has a porphyrin packing similar to that seen in the triclinic unit cell of the Zn(2+)TPP crystals, reproduced the Soret band bathochromic shift appearing in the aqueous solution of 1 b well. The UV/Vis absorption spectrum of the 1 a/1 b hybrid vesicles (molar ratio: 1/1) showed no electronic interaction between the two porphyrin chromophores in the ground state, but efficient intermolecular singlet-singlet energy transfer took place from the excited 1 b donors to the 1 a acceptor within the vesicle. Near-field scanning optical microspectroscopy of the 1 a/1 b vesicles on a graphite surface also showed only free-base porphyrin fluorescence. The efficiency of the energy transfer was 0.81 and the rate constant was 3.1 x 10(9) s(-1). On the other hand, protoporphyrin IX bearing two alkylphosphocholine propionates (2) was incorporated into the 1 a or 1 c bilayer vesicles (ca. 100 nm phi, molar ratio: 1 a/2 or 1 c/2=10). The UV/Vis absorption spectrum showed that 2 was successfully anchored into the fluid alkylene region of the membrane without stacking. Photoirradiation (lambda(ex): 390 nm) of the 1 c/2 vesicles in the presence of triethanolamine led a vectorial electron transfer from the outer aqueous phase to the membrane center, which allowed reduction of the ferric ion of the Fe(3+)TPP platform.

Zinc-coordination oligomers of phenanthrolinylporphyrins

[structure: see text] We report the synthesis of mono- and bisphenanthrolinylporphyrins 5-(9-carboxy-1,10-phenanthroline-2),15-(p-tolyl)-2,8,12,18-tetraethyl-3,7,13,17-tetramethylporphyrin (MPPc) and 5,15-bis(9-carboxy-1,10-phenanthroline-2)-2,8,12,18-tetraethyl-3,7,13,17-tetramethylporphyrin (BPPc), respectively. The formation of dimers and oligomers, with MPPc and BPPc, respectively, upon exposure to zinc acetate is described. Oligomerization of the porphyrins was monitored spectrophotometrically, and a kinetic study was performed to estimate the average oligomer chain length.