Influence of the nature of the porphyrin ligand on the nuclease activity of metalloporphyrin-oligonucleotide conjugates designed with cationic, hydrophobic or anionic metalloporphyrins

Manganese porphyrin-based metal-organic framework for synergistic sonodynamic therapy and ferroptosis in hypoxic tumors

Development of efficient therapeutic strategy to incorporate ultrasound (US)-triggered sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and ferroptosis is highly promising in cancer therapy. However, the SDT efficacy is severely limited by the hypoxia and high glutathione (GSH) in the tumor microenvironment, and ferroptosis is highly associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and GSH depletion.

Methods: A manganese porphyrin-based metal-organic framework (Mn-MOF) was constructed as a nanosensitizer to self-supply oxygen (O₂) and decrease GSH for enhanced SDT and ferroptosis. In vitro and in vivo analysis, including characterization, O₂ generation, GSH depletion, ROS generation, lipid peroxidation, antitumor efficacy and tumor immune microenvironment were systematically evaluated.

Results: Mn-MOF exhibited catalase-like and GSH decreasing activity in vitro. After efficient internalization into cancer cells, Mn-MOF persistently catalyzed tumor-overexpressed H₂O₂ to in-situ produce O₂ to relieve tumor hypoxia and decrease GSH and GPX4, which facilitated the formation of ROS and ferroptosis to kill cancer cells upon US irradiation in hypoxic tumors. Thus, strong anticancer and anti-metastatic activity was found in H22 and 4T1 tumor-bearing mice after a single administration of Mn-MOF upon a single US irradiation. In addition, Mn-MOF showed strong antitumor immunity and improved immunosuppressive microenvironment upon US irradiation by increasing the numbers of activated CD8⁺ T cells and matured dendritic cells and decreaing the numbers of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in tumor tissues.

Conclusions: Mn-MOF holds great potential for hypoxic cancer therapy.

Synthesis of Water-Soluble Thioglycosylated trans-A2B2 Type Porphyrins: Cellular Uptake Studies and Photodynamic Efficiency

The synthesis of water-soluble thioglycosylated A₂B₂ type porphyrins and their zinc(II) complexes is reported. The water-soluble trans-A₂B₂ porphyrins were synthesized in two steps, via [2+2] condensation between thioglycosylated dipyrromethanes and aromatic aldehydes in 15-21% yields. The thioglycosylated trans-A₂B₂ porphyrins showed decent in vitro singlet oxygen generation, which was supported by the intracellular DCFDA study. The in vitro cellular investigations of thioglycosylated A₂B₂ porphyrins were carried out in lung cancer cells (A549) to test their photodynamic therapeutic (PDT) activity. The PDT study revealed significant cytotoxicities of porphyrins with IC₅₀ values between 23.3 and 44.2 μM in the dark, whereas, after visible light exposure, the photosensitizers exhibited IC₅₀ values around 11.1-23.8 μM. The water-soluble thioglycosylated zinc(II) porphyrins having two meso-N-butylcarbazole groups exhibited an excellent degree of photocytotoxicity (IC₅₀ = 4.6-8.8 μM). The flow cytometry analysis revealed that cellular uptake and ROS (reactive oxygen species) generation efficiency of water-soluble thioglycosylated zinc(II) porphyrins were considerably higher than nonmetalated porphyrins. Confocal microscopy images displayed substantial distribution in the endoplasmic reticulum with partial colocalization in mitochondria and lysosomes of water-soluble thioglycosylated zinc(II) porphyrins in A549 cells.

Diiodo-Bodipy-Encapsulated Nanoscale Metal-Organic Framework for pH-Driven Selective and Mitochondria Targeted Photodynamic Therapy

We report herein a new ZIF-90-based PDT agent which was synthesized by in situ assembly of imidazole-2-carboxaldehyde (IcaH), Zn(NO₃)₂, and heavy atom iodine-attached Bodipy. The obtained 2I-BodipyPhNO₂@ZIF-90 (1) host-guest photosensitive system featured low cytotoxicity, good biocompatibility, pH-driven selective cancer cell uptake and release, mitochondria targeting, and highly efficient pH-triggered ¹O₂ generation. Therefore, it can be used as a high-performing PDT agent to selectively kill tumor cells. In comparison to free 2I-BodipyPhNO₂, 1 exhibits a much higher antitumor efficacy and selectivity, which was confirmed by in vitro cell experiments.

Cellular, pharmacological, and biophysical evaluation of explanted lungs from a patient with sickle cell disease and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is recognized as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). We now report benchtop phenotyping from the explanted lungs of the first successful lung transplant in SCD. Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) cultured from the explanted lungs were analyzed for proliferate capacity, superoxide (O2 (•-)) production, and changes in key pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-associated molecules and compared with non-PAH PASMCs. Upregulation of several pathologic processes persisted in culture in SCD lung PASMCs in spite of cell passage. SCD lung PASMCs showed growth factor- and serum-independent proliferation, upregulation of matrix genes, and increased O2 (•-) production compared with control cells. Histologic analysis of SCD-associated PAH arteries demonstrated increased and ectopically located extracellular matrix deposition and degradation of elastin fibers. Biomechanical analysis of these vessels confirmed increased arterial stiffening and loss of elasticity. Functional analysis of distal fifth-order pulmonary arteries from these lungs demonstrated increased vasoconstriction to an α1-adrenergic receptor agonist and concurrent loss of both endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent vasodilation compared with normal pulmonary arteries. This is the first study to evaluate the molecular, cellular, functional, and mechanical changes in end-stage SCD-associated PAH.

Synthesis of a photostable near-infrared-absorbing photosensitizer for selective photodamage to cancer cells

A new class of near-infrared (NIR)-absorptive (>900 nm) photosensitizer based on a phenothiazinium scaffold is reported. The stable solid compound, o-DAP, the oxidative form of 3,7-bis(4-methylaminophenyl)-10H-phenothiazine, can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS, singlet oxygen and superoxide) under appropriate irradiation conditions. After biologically evaluating the intracellular uptake, localization, and phototoxicity of this compound, it was concluded that o-DAP is photostable and a potential selective photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent under either NIR or white light irradiation because its photodamage is more efficient in cancer cells than in normal cells and is without significant dark toxicity. This is very rare for photosensitizers in PDT applications.

Special reactive oxygen species generation by a highly photostable BODIPY-based photosensitizer for selective photodynamic therapy

We introduce a new class of photostable, efficient photosensitizers based on boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivatives that can generate singlet oxygen and super oxide simultaneously under irradiation. For compound preparation, appropriate regulation of the reaction conditions and control of specifically substituted BODIPY derivatives have been achieved. After biologically evaluating the intracellular uptake, localization, and phototoxicity of the compounds, we conclude that 3,5-dianiline-substituted BODIPY is a potentially selective photodynamic therapy candidate because its photodamage is more efficient in cancer cells than in normal cells, without apparent dark toxicity. Furthermore, direct comparison of photodamage efficacy revealed that our compound has better efficacy than Foscan and nearly equal efficacy to that of methylene blue.

Synthesis of porphyrin-carbohydrate conjugates using "click" chemistry and their preliminary evaluation in human HEp2 cells

Using a Cu ( I )-catalyzed carbohydrate azide-alkynylphenylporphyrin cycloaddition (the so-called "click" chemistry), we have synthesized in high yields, a series of four new porphyrin-carbohydrate conjugates containing either one or four galactose or lactose moieties linked via triazole units to a meso-phenyl group of a TPP or tetrabenzoporphyrin (TBP) macrocycle. The time-dependent uptake and subcellular distribution of this series of porphyrin-carbohydrate conjugates were evaluated in human carcinoma HEp2 cells. While the three TPP conjugates accumulated to a similar extent within cells and localized mainly in the ER and endosomes, the TBP-galactose conju gate was the one most efficiently taken up by the HEp2 cells, accumulating approximately 5 times more than the TPP conjugates, and localized preferentially within the cell lysosomes.

Design of photosensitizer/cyclodextrin nanoassemblies: spectroscopy, intracellular delivery and photodamage

The engineering of multifunctional nanoparticles carrying photosensitizer drugs (PS) and exposing binding groups for cellular receptors is of increasing interest in therapeutics and diagnostics applications. Natural and modified cyclodextrins (CDs) offer useful scaffolds to bind PS guests by supramolecular interactions. In particular, amphiphilic β-CDs, which form nanoaggregates of diverse shape and size according to the polarity of substituent groups on the rims, include in their different compartments as CD cavity, hydrophilic and hydrophobic portion, PS with different physicochemical properties. PS embedded in cationic amphiphilic CD nanoassemblies are effective in inducing photodynamic damage in cancer cells. For a carrier/PS system to be used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) or photodynamic diagnosis (PDD), the appropriate combination of the delivery characteristics with the preservation of the photodynamic activity of the PS is strictly required. Homogeneous multilayer films based on cationic amphiphilic β-CD entrapping anionic porphyrins can be constructed to exploit interfacial electrostatic interactions between the two components. The capability of CDs to generate restricted microenvironments for PS which can facilitate photoinduced energy transfer with suitable donor molecules was investigated for potential application in fluorescence diagnosis. Besides, recent findings suggest that PDT could represent a useful tool for properly addressing an alternative approach for killing pathogens and combating infections at a clinical level. Finally, modified CDs can bind gold nanoparticles, yielding hybrid organic/inorganic nanoparticles which were studied in water solution and after casting on solid substrates. These binary assemblies could further encapsulate PS or other conventional drugs, opening new intriguing routes on multimodal therapy.

Bridged nucleic acid conjugates at 6'-thiol: synthesis, hybridization properties and nuclease resistances

The bridged nucleic acid (BNA) containing a thiol at the 6'-position in the bridged structure was synthesized from the disulfide-type BNA and conjugated with various functional molecules via the thioether or the disulfide linkage post-synthetically and efficiently in solution phase. The disulfide-linked conjugate was cleaved under reductive conditions derived from glutathione and an oligonucleotide bearing a free thiol was released smoothly. Conjugated functional molecules had great effects on duplex stability with the DNA complement. In contrast, the molecules little influenced the stability with the RNA complement. Moreover, the oligonucleotides with functional groups at the 6'-position had as high or higher resistances against 3'-exonuclease than phosphorothioate oligonucleotide (S-oligo).

Long-range charge transport through double-stranded DNA mediated by manganese or iron porphyrins

Guanine oxidation by electron transfer results in the formation of a guanine radical cation, which is at the origin of long-range charge transport through double-stranded DNA. It is possible to observe guanine lesions at a long distance from the oxidative reagent covalently bound to DNA owing to the migration of the positive hole in the DNA pi-stacks. This phenomenon of long-range hole transport is classically studied in the literature with photosensitizers used as one-electron oxidants. It is shown in the present work that the process of long-range charge transport and the concomitant formation of guanine lesions at a long distance can be observed also in the case of two-electron oxidants. This is the signature of the formation of a transient guanine radical cation in the course of the two-electron abstraction process and consequently evidence of the separated one plus one electron abstraction steps. Long-range charge transport is likely to be a universal mechanism for any two-electron oxidant acting by electron abstraction provided that the second electron abstraction is slower than hole transfer.

Study on the interaction of 5-pyridine-10,15,20-tris-(p-chlorophenyl)porphyrin with cyclodextrins and DNA by spectroscopy

The interaction of 5-pyridine-10,15,20-tris-(p-chlorophenyl)porphyrin (PyTPP) with beta-CD and TM-beta-CD were examined by UV-vis absorption, fluorescence and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. PyTPP prefers to form the 1:1 inclusion complex with TM-beta-CD but hardly form inclusion complex with beta-CD. An inclusion constant (K) for the formation of PyTPP-TM-beta-CD inclusion complex has been evaluated to be 4.4x10(3)L/mol from the absorbance changes. This K value is nearly the same as that 4.5x10(3)L/mol obtained from the fluorescence intensity changes. Compared to beta-CD, the inclusion ability of TM-beta-CD with PyTPP is stronger. It indicates that the hydrophobic effect plays an important role in the inclusion procedure. The mechanism of inclusion interaction was carried out by 1H NMR technique. Furthermore, the interaction of PyTPP with DNA is shown here. It can bind DNA by out-side stacking along the DNA helix but not by intercalation because of the high electron density in the porphyrin core. The binding constant and binding number of PyTPP to DNA are 4.3x10(3) and 1.3, respectively. The interaction of PyTPP with DNA was further carried out in the presence of TM-beta-CD. The significant decrease of the binding constant and binding number were observed and the interaction of porphyrin-bound DNA has been inhibited, which was due to the fact that PyTPP inter into the cavity of TM-beta-CD and influence binding affinity of PyTPP to DNA.

Porphyrins as spectroscopic sensors for conformational studies of DNA

Molecular systems containing two or more interacting porphyrins show remarkable spectroscopic features that allow for a very sensitive detection of conformational changes on the microscale level by different methods, such as fluorescence and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Covalent porphyrin-DNA assemblies can provide a CD profile (exciton couplet) within the porphyrin Soret band region which is very diagnostic for DNA conformational changes. Additionally, covalently linked porphyrins have been shown to function as DNA molecular caps and to stabilize the non-self-complementary non-Watson-Crick guanine-adenine DNA sequence via their strong π-π stacking.

Synthesis and cellular studies of PEG-functionalized meso-tetraphenylporphyrins

The total syntheses of four PEG-functionalized porphyrins, containing one to four low molecular weight PEG chains linked via amide bonds to the para-phenyl positions of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin, are reported. The hydrophobic character of the PEG-porphyrins decreases with the number of PEG chains linked to the porphyrin ring, while their tendency for aggregation in buffered aqueous solution increases. The porphyrins containing one or two PEG chains accumulated within human HEp2 cells to a much higher extent than those having three or four PEGs at the macrocycle periphery. All PEG-porphyrins were found to be non-toxic in the dark, and only those containing one or two PEG chains were phototoxic (IC(50)=2 microM at 1J/cm(2) light dose). The preferential sites of subcellular localization of the porphyrins containing one or two PEG chains were found to be the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), while those containing three or four PEG chains localize preferentially in the lysosomes.

Use of short duplexes for the analysis of the sequence-dependent cleavage of DNA by a chemical nuclease, a manganese porphyrin

A manganese porphyrin, manganese(III)-bis(aqua)-meso-tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridiniumyl)porphyrin, in the presence of KHSO5 is able to perform deoxyribose or guanine oxidation depending on its mode of interaction with DNA. These two reactions involve an oxygen-atom transfer or an electron transfer, respectively. The oxidative reactivity of the manganese-oxo porphyrin was compared on short oligonucleotide duplexes of different sequences. The major mechanism of DNA damage is due to deoxyribose hydroxylation at a site of strong interaction, an (A.T)3 sequence. Guanine oxidation by electron transfer was found not to be competitive with this major mechanism. It was found that a single intrastrand guanine was three orders of magnitude less reactive than an (A.T)3 sequence. The reactivity of a 5'-GG sequence was found to be intermediate and was estimated to be two orders of magnitude less than that of an (A.T)3 site. Short oligonucleotide duplexes, as double-stranded-DNA models, proved to be convenient tools for the study of the comparative reactivity of this reagent toward different sequences of DNA. However, they showed a particular reactivity at their terminal base pairs (the "end effect") that biased their modeling capacity for double-helix-DNA models.

5'-Porphyrin-oligonucleotide conjugates: neutral porphyrin-DNA interactions

[chemical reaction: see text]. Incorporation of hydrophilic tetraarylporphyrin phosphoramidites into the 5'-termimus of the DNA as well as noncharged porphyrin-DNA interactions have been studied. Porphyrin-modified oligonucleotides show lower melting temperatures than their unmodified analogues. Single-stranded DNA interacts more strongly with porphyrin and causes more intense chiral disturbance in the porphyrin environment than the corresponding double strand.

Peptide-mediated cell transport of water soluble porphyrin conjugates

Five new porphyrin-peptide conjugates bearing a nuclear localizing sequence SV40 or a fusogenic peptide (HIV-1Tat 40-60 or octa-arginine) linked by low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) have been synthesized. In vitro studies using human HEp2 cells show that the cellular uptake of the conjugates depends significantly on the nature and sequence of amino acids in the peptide and on the nature of the substituents on the porphyrin macrocycle. The fusogenic peptide sequences HIV-1Tat 40-60 and octa-arginine were the most effective in delivering the conjugates to the cells. The subcellular distribution of the conjugates was found to be dependent on the nature of substituents on the porphyrin macrocycle. The conjugates bearing a hydrophobic porphyrin localized preferentially in the endoplasmic reticulum and were significantly more phototoxic to HEp2 cells than the carboxylic acid functionalized porphyrin conjugates, which localized mainly in the lysosomes.

Porphyrin substituted phosphoramidites: new building blocks for porphyrin-oligonucleotide syntheses

Thymidine phosphoramidites containing trispyridylphenyl and tetraphenylporphyrin chromophores attached via a short amide linker in the 3'-position have been synthesized and used as building blocks in solid-phase synthesis of self-complementary 8-mer oligonucleotides 3'-T-5'-GCGCGCA-3' and 5'-ACGCGCGT-3'. To our knowledge, these are the first porphyrin-oligonucleotide conjugates carrying the porphyrin chromophores in the 3'-position. Chain assembly was achieved by automated solid-phase synthesis and by inexpensive straightforward 'in flask' modification of commercially available solid supported oligonucleotides. This approach allows the synthesis of modified oligonucleotides without using costly instrumentation for automated DNA synthesis. Porphyrin-containing self-complementary oligonucleotides are expected to be a valuable model for drug binding studies and determination of conformational changes in DNA sequences using circular dichroism.

Synthesis and Characterization of Positively Charged Porphyrin−Peptide Conjugates

The total syntheses of 14 porphyrin conjugates containing one to four positively charged amino acids and two distinct linkers are described. All conjugates were fully characterized using spectroscopic methods, and the X-ray structure of a porphyrin isothiocyanate precursor was obtained. In vitro studies using HEp2 cells show that these conjugates have low cytotoxicity (IC50 > 250 microM) and that the extent of their cellular uptake depends significantly on the number, nature, and sequence of amino acids in the peptide, and on the presence of a centrally chelated metal ion. Metal-free conjugates bearing three consecutive arginine residues accumulated the most within cells. On the other hand, the preferential sites of subcellular localization were found to be independent from the number, nature, and sequence of amino acids in the conjugate, the linker, and coordinated metal ion; it is suggested, based on theoretical calculations, that the peptides in these conjugates fold over the porphyrin macrocycle in order to maximize intramolecular hydrophobic interactions.

Photocrosslinking in ruthenium-labelled duplex oligonucleotides

The formation of a photoadduct between a [Ru(1,4,5,8-tetraazaphenanthrene)(2)4,7-diphenylphenanthroline](2+) complex chemically attached to a synthetic oligonucleotide, and a guanine moiety in a complementary targeted single-stranded DNA molecule was studied for ten 17-mer duplexes by denaturing gel electrophoresis. This photoadduct formation leads to photocrosslinking of the two strands. The percentage quenching of luminescence of the complex by electron transfer was compared to the resulting yield of photocrosslinked product. This yield does not only depend on the ionisation potential of the guanine bases, which are electron donors, but also on other factors, such as the position of the guanine bases as compared to the site of attachment of the complex. The photocrosslinking yield is higher when the guanine moieties are towards the 3' end on the complementary strand as compared to the tethering site. Computer modelling results are in agreement with this preference for the 3' side for the photoreaction. Interestingly, the photocrosslink is not alkali labile. Moreover, a type III exonuclease enzyme is blocked at the position of photocrosslinking.

Rapid routes of synthesis of oligonucleotide conjugates from non-protected oligonucleotides and ligands possessing different nucleophilic or electrophilic functional groups

Optimized methods are described for post-synthetic conjugation of non-protected oligodeoxyribonucleotides to different ligands. Methods for the terminal functionalization of oligonucleotides by amino, sulfhydryl, thiophosphate or carboxyl groups using different chemical reactions and linkers in both organic and aqueous media are described and compared. Experimental conditions for subsequent coupling of ligands containing aliphatic and aromatic amines, aromatic alcohols, carboxylic, sulfhydryl, alkylating, aldehydic and other reactive nucleophilic and electrophilic groups to oligonucleotides were established, including covalent linkage to other oligonucleotides.

Modification of the thiourea linkage of a fluorescein-oligonucleotide conjugate to a guanidinium motif during ammonia deprotection

During the preparation of a fluorescent conjugate based on a manganese cationic porphyrin carboxylate derivative linked to a 5'-amino-3'-fluorescein-labeled oligonucleotide, we observed the chemical transformation of the thiourea linkage to a guanidinium function during the deprotection in ammonia of the 3'-fluorescein-oligonucleotide from CPG support. We also noted a secondary reactivity of the activated carboxylate group of the metalloporphyrin precursor with the fluorescein entity of the conjugated oligonucleotide.

A study of metalloporphyrin-polynucleotide interactions by microcalorimetry and circular dichroism

In this paper we examine the interactions of Calf Thymus DNA and the model polynucleotides poly(dA).poly(dT), poly(dAdT)2 and poly(dG.dC)2 with a group of metalloporphyrins derived from the freebase porphyrin tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridyl)porphine, H2(TMpy-P4), by means of ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy and microcalorimetry. We have studied the interactions of the copper, cobalt, nickel and zinc derivatives of H2(TMpy-P4) in addition to the free base porphyrin itself. We have found strong evidence for an external self-stacking interaction of the Cu(TMpy-P4) and Zn(TMpy-P4) derivatives with poly(dA).poly(dT) and poly(dAdT)2 even at low concentrations of porphyrin, and all of the porphyrin derivatives studied appear to display such a self-stacking in interaction with poly(dA.dT)2 at sufficiently high ratios of porphyrin to polynucleotide.