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Toubia I, Nguyen C, Diring S, Onofre M, Daurat M, Gauthier C, Gary-Bobo M, Kobeissi M, Odobel F. Development of targeted photodynamic therapy drugs by combining a zinc phthalocyanine sensitizer with TSPO or EGFR binding groups: the impact of the number of targeting agents on biological activity. Org Biomol Chem 2023; 21:6509-6523. [PMID: 37341568 DOI: 10.1039/d3ob00565h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Drug-targeted delivery has become a top priority in the world of medicine in order to develop more efficient therapeutic agents. This is important as a critical underlying problem in cancer therapy stems from the inability to deliver active therapeutic substances directly to tumor cells without causing collateral damage. In this work, zinc(II) phthalocyanine (ZnPc) was selected as a sensitizer and was linked to different targeting agents, which would be recognized by overexpressed proteins in cancer cells. As targeting agents, we first selected the two ligands (DAA1106, PK11195) of the translocator protein (TSPO) and then Erlotinib a binding group of the ATP domain of tyrosine kinase in epidermal growth factor (EGFR). ZnPc was connected via an ethylene glycol chain to either one (n = 1) or four (n = 4) targeting agents. The biological activity of these conjugates ZnPc(ligand)n was investigated on MDA-MB-231 breast human cancer cells and human hepatoma HepG2 cells, first in the dark (cytotoxicity) and then under irradiation (photodynamic therapy). The dark cytotoxicity was extremely low (IC50 ≥ 50 μM) for all of these compounds, which is a required criterion for further photodynamic application. After irradiation at 650 nm, only the conjugates bearing one targeting ligand such as ZnPc-[DAA1106]1, ZnPc-[PK11195]1, and ZnPc-[Erlo]1 showed photodynamic activity, while those linked to 4 targeting agents were inactive. Importantly, fluorescence imaging microscopy showed the colocalization of ZnPc-[DAA1106]1, ZnPc-[PK11195]1 and ZnPc-[erlo]1, at mitochondria, a result that justifies the observed photodynamic activity of these conjugates. This study first shows the impact of the number and the mode of organization of targeting agents on the ability of the sensitizer to cross the cell membrane. When zinc(II) phthalocyanine carries a single targeting agent, a significant photodynamic activity on MDA-MB-231 breast human cancer cells was measured and localization at the mitochondria was demonstrated by fluorescence imaging, thus proving the potential of the sensitizer linked to a targeting agent to improve selectivity. Another important conclusion from this study for the design of future effective PDT drugs using multivalence effects is to control the arrangement of the targeting agents in order to design molecules that will be able to pass the cell membrane barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Toubia
- Nantes Université, CNRS, CEISAM, Chimie Et Interdisciplinarité, Synthèse, Analyse, Modélisation, UMR 6230, 2, rue de la Houssinière - BP 92208, F-44000 NANTES, France.
- Laboratoire RammalRammal, Equipe de Synthèse Organique Appliquée SOA, Université Libanaise, Faculté des Sciences 5, Nabatieh, Lebanon.
| | | | - Stéphane Diring
- Nantes Université, CNRS, CEISAM, Chimie Et Interdisciplinarité, Synthèse, Analyse, Modélisation, UMR 6230, 2, rue de la Houssinière - BP 92208, F-44000 NANTES, France.
| | - Mélanie Onofre
- IBMM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France.
| | - Morgane Daurat
- NanoMedSyn, 15 avenue Charles Flahault, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Corentin Gauthier
- IBMM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France.
- NanoMedSyn, 15 avenue Charles Flahault, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | | | - Marwan Kobeissi
- Laboratoire RammalRammal, Equipe de Synthèse Organique Appliquée SOA, Université Libanaise, Faculté des Sciences 5, Nabatieh, Lebanon.
| | - Fabrice Odobel
- Nantes Université, CNRS, CEISAM, Chimie Et Interdisciplinarité, Synthèse, Analyse, Modélisation, UMR 6230, 2, rue de la Houssinière - BP 92208, F-44000 NANTES, France.
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Xie Q, Li Z, Liu Y, Zhang D, Su M, Niitsu H, Lu Y, Coffey RJ, Bai M. Translocator protein-targeted photodynamic therapy for direct and abscopal immunogenic cell death in colorectal cancer. Acta Biomater 2021; 134:716-729. [PMID: 34329783 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.07.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Abscopal effect is an attractive cancer therapeutic effect referring to tumor regression at a location distant from the primary treatment site. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) offers a mechanistic link between the primary and remote therapeutic effects by activating favorable anti-tumor immune responses. In this study, we induced ICD in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines in vitro and in vivo by targeting the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a mitochondrial receptor overexpressed in CRC. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a TSPO-targeted photosensitizer, IR700DX-6T, caused effective apoptotic cell death in fourteen CRC cell lines. In a syngeneic immunocompetent CRC mouse model, the growth of tumors subjected to TSPO-PDT was greatly suppressed. Remarkably, untreated tumors in the opposing flank also showed marked growth suppression. Dendritic and CD8+ T cells were activated after TSPO-PDT treatment, accompanied by decreased Treg cells in both treated and non-treated tumors. In addition, a cancer vaccine developed from TSPO-PDT produced a significant tumor inhibition effect. These results indicate that TSPO-PDT could not only directly suppress tumor growth but also dramatically provoke host anti-tumor immunity, highlighting the potential of TSPO-PDT as a successful therapeutic for CRC that exhibits systemic effects. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Abscopal effect is an attractive cancer therapeutic effect referring to tumor regression at a location distant from the primary treatment site. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) offers a mechanistic link between the primary and remote therapeutic effects by activating favorable anti-tumor immune responses. In this study, we report a new therapeutic approach that can reduce the growth of multiple CRC cell lines by inducing ICD. Notably, a direct and abscopal effect was observed in mouse tumor-derived MC38 cells when injected into syngeneic immunocompetent mice. If comparable effects could be achieved in humans, it would establish a novel paradigm for treating micro- and macro-metastasis.
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Xie Q, Su M, Liu Y, Zhang D, Li Z, Bai M. Translocator protein (TSPO)-Targeted agents for photodynamic therapy of cancer. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2021; 34:102209. [PMID: 33561573 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically approved therapeutic strategy that combines a specific wavelength of light and light-activated photosensitizers (PSs). The usage of PDT for cancer treatment is often hampered by the lack of tumor selectivity of PSs, which may cause photodamage to surrounding normal tissues. Recently, translocator protein (TSPO) has attracted great interest as a tumor biomarker, whose expression correlates with tumor aggressiveness. In this study, we report the development of a series of novel TSPO-PSs based on quinazoline, pyrazolopyrimidine, and tetrahydrocarbazole structures. These TSPO-PSs bind to TSPO with nanomolar affinities and demonstrated efficient and target-specific PDT effect upon light irradiation. Therefore, they may have great potential in the treatment of tumors associated with high-TSPO expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Xie
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Meng Su
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Dawei Zhang
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, No. 250 East Changgang Road, Guangzhou, 510260, PR China
| | - Zhen Li
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA; Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 4 Chongshan East Road, Huanggu District, Shenyang, 110032, PR China
| | - Mingfeng Bai
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
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Multilayer photodynamic therapy for highly effective and safe cancer treatment. Acta Biomater 2017; 54:271-280. [PMID: 28285077 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Revised: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Recent efforts to develop tumor-targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) photosensitizers (PSs) have greatly advanced the potential of PDT in cancer therapy, although complete eradication of tumor cells by PDT alone remains challenging. As a way to improve PDT efficacy, we report a new combinatory PDT therapy technique that specifically targets multilayers of cells. Simply mixing different PDT PSs, even those that target distinct receptors (this may still lead to similar cell-killing pathways), may not achieve ideal therapeutic outcomes. Instead, significantly improved outcomes likely require synergistic therapies that target various cellular pathways. In this study, we target two proteins upregulated in cancers: the cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CB2R, a G-protein coupled receptor) and translocator protein (TSPO, a mitochondria membrane receptor). We found that the CB2R-targeted PS, IR700DX-mbc94, triggered necrotic cell death upon light irradiation, whereas PDT with the TSPO-targeted IR700DX-6T agent led to apoptotic cell death. Both PSs significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo in a target-specific manner. As expected, the combined CB2R- and TSPO-PDT resulted in enhanced cell killing efficacy and tumor inhibition with lower drug dose. The median survival time of animals with multilayer PDT treatment was extended by as much as 2.8-fold over single PDT treatment. Overall, multilayer PDT provides new opportunities to treat cancers with high efficacy and low side effects. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is increasingly used as a minimally invasive, controllable and effective therapeutic procedure for cancer treatment. However, complete eradication of tumor cells by PDT alone remains challenging. In this study, we investigate the potential of multilayer PDT in cancer treatment with high efficacy and low side effects. Through PDT targeting two cancer biomarkers located at distinct subcellular localizations, remarkable synergistic effects in cancer cell killing and tumor inhibition were observed in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. This strategy may be widely applied to treat various cancer types by using strategically designed PDT photosensitizers that target corresponding upregulated receptors at tactical subcellular localization.
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Morales P, Moreno L, Fernández-Ruiz J, Jagerovic N. Synthesis of a novel CB2 cannabinoid-porphyrin conjugate based on an antitumor chromenopyrazoledione. J PORPHYR PHTHALOCYA 2017. [DOI: 10.1142/s1088424617500092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
With the objective of developing an antitumor agent, the synthesis of a chromenopyrazoledione conjugated to a tetraphenylporphyrin is described. A complete conformational analysis of the novel porphyrin conjugate was performed using ab initio Hartree–Fock calculations at the 6-31G* level. The novel conjugate (14) shows stronger absorption intensity for both Soret and Q-bands than the free meso-tetraphenylporphyrin. It binds weakly but selectively to the cannabinoid receptor type-2. During the synthetic approach, a new tetraphenylporphyrin, 5-[4-(3,5-dioxomorpholino)phenyl]-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin (10), has been characterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Morales
- Instituto de Química Médica (IQM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIS), Unidad Asociada, l+D+i IQM/Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), Calle Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Moreno
- Instituto de Química Médica (IQM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIS), Unidad Asociada, l+D+i IQM/Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), Calle Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Fernández-Ruiz
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades, Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Nadine Jagerovic
- Instituto de Química Médica (IQM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIS), Unidad Asociada, l+D+i IQM/Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), Calle Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Zhang S, Yang L, Ling X, Shao P, Wang X, Edwards WB, Bai M. Tumor mitochondria-targeted photodynamic therapy with a translocator protein (TSPO)-specific photosensitizer. Acta Biomater 2015; 28:160-170. [PMID: 26432436 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2015.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been proven to be a minimally invasive and effective therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. It can be used alone or as a complement to conventional cancer treatments, such as surgical debulking and chemotherapy. The mitochondrion is an attractive target for developing novel PDT agents, as it produces energy for cells and regulates apoptosis. Current strategy of mitochondria targeting is mainly focused on utilizing cationic photosensitizers that bind to the negatively charged mitochondria membrane. However, such an approach is lack of selectivity of tumor cells. To minimize the damage on healthy tissues and improve therapeutic efficacy, an alternative targeting strategy with high tumor specificity is in critical need. Herein, we report a tumor mitochondria-specific PDT agent, IR700DX-6T, which targets the 18kDa mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO). IR700DX-6T induced apoptotic cell death in TSPO-positive breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) but not TSPO-negative breast cancer cells (MCF-7). In vivo PDT study suggested that IR700DX-6T-mediated PDT significantly inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 tumors in a target-specific manner. These combined data suggest that this new TSPO-targeted photosensitizer has great potential in cancer treatment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective and minimally invasive therapeutic technique for treating cancers. Mitochondrion is an attractive target for developing novel PDT agents, as it produces energy to cells and regulates apoptosis. Current mitochondria targeted photosensitizers (PSs) are based on cationic molecules, which interact with the negatively charged mitochondria membrane. However, such PSs are not specific for cancerous cells, which may result in unwanted side effects. In this study, we developed a tumor mitochondria-targeted PS, IR700DX-6T, which binds to translocator protein (TSPO). This agent effectively induced apoptosis in TSPO-positive cancer cells and significantly inhibited tumor growth in TSPO-positive tumor-bearing mice. These combined data suggest that IR700DX-6T could become a powerful tool in the treatment of multiple cancers that upregulate TSPO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaojuan Zhang
- Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Ling Yang
- Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
- Department of Cellular and Genetic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xiaoxi Ling
- Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Pin Shao
- Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Xiaolei Wang
- Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - W Barry Edwards
- Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Mingfeng Bai
- Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
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Getting it right: 3D cell cultures for the assessment of photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. Future Med Chem 2015; 7:1957-60. [PMID: 26496381 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.15.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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Ryan AA, Senge MO. How green is green chemistry? Chlorophylls as a bioresource from biorefineries and their commercial potential in medicine and photovoltaics. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2015; 14:638-60. [DOI: 10.1039/c4pp00435c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Chlorophylls are the natural green pigments par excellence and offer potential as therapeutics and in energy generation. This perspective outlines the state-of-the-art, their possible applications and indicates future directions in the context of green chemistry and their production from biorefineries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoife A. Ryan
- School of Chemistry
- SFI Tetrapyrrole Laboratory
- Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute
- 152-160 Pearse Street
- Trinity College Dublin
| | - Mathias O. Senge
- School of Chemistry
- SFI Tetrapyrrole Laboratory
- Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute
- 152-160 Pearse Street
- Trinity College Dublin
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