Michela Magaraggia

The in vivo efficacy of phthalocyanine–nanoparticle conjugates for the photodynamic therapy of amelanotic melanoma

The efficiency of a Zn(II)-phthalocyanine disulphide (C11Pc), a compound with both phthalocyanine units bearing seven hexyl chains and a sulphur terminated C11 chain, as a photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent was investigated in C57 mice bearing a sub-cutaneously transplanted amelanotic melanoma. The phthalocyanine was intravenously injected at a dose of 1.5 micromol/kg body weight either free or bound to gold nanoparticles, using a Cremophor emulsion as a delivery vehicle. Biodistribution studies at selected post-injection times showed that the nanoparticle-associated C11Pc was recovered in significantly larger amounts from all the examined tissues and the serum and yielded a greater selectivity of tumour targeting: thus, the ratio between the amount of phthalocyanine recovered from the amelanotic melanoma and the skin (peritumoural tissue) increased from 2.3 to 5.5 from the free to the gold nanoparticle-bound C11Pc at 24 h after injection. PDT studies with the C11Pc-loaded amelanotic melanoma showed a markedly more significant response of the tumour in the mice that had received the nanoparticle-bound photosensitiser; the PDT effect was especially extensive if the irradiation was performed at 3h after C11Pc injection when large phthalocyanine amounts were still present in the serum. This suggests that the PDT promoted by C11Pc predominantly acts via vascular damage at least in this specific animal model. This hypothesis was fully confirmed by electron microscopy observations of tumour specimens obtained at different times after the end of PDT, showing an extensive damage of the blood capillaries and the endothelial cells.

Novel, Meso-Substituted Cationic Porphyrin Molecule for Photo-Mediated Larval Control of the Dengue Vector Aedes aegypti

Background Control of the mosquito vector population is the most effective strategy currently available for the prevention of dengue fever and the containment of outbreaks. Photo-activated oxidants may represent promising tools for developing effective, safe and ecofriendly novel larvicides. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of the synthetic meso-substituted porphyrin meso-tri(N-methylpyridyl), meso-mono(N-tetradecylpyridyl)porphine (C14) as a photoactivatable larvicide against the dengue vector Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti. Methodology The photophysical and photochemical properties of the C14 molecule were assessed spectrophotometrically. Photomediated larvicidal efficacy, route of intake and site of action were determined on Ae. aegypti larvae by laboratory bioassays and fluorescence microscopy. Using powdered food pellet for laboratory rodents (a common larval food used in the laboratory) as a carrier for C14, loading-release dynamics, larvicidal efficacy and residual activity of the C14-carrier complex were investigated. Main Findings The C14 molecule was found to exert a potent photosensitizing activity on Ae. aegypti larvae. At irradiation intervals of 12 h and 1 h, at a light intensity of 4.0 mW/cm2, which is 50–100 times lower than that of natural sunlight, LC50 values of 0.1 µM (0.15 mg/l) and 0.5 µM (0.77 mg/l) were obtained, respectively. The molecule was active after ingestion by the larvae and caused irreversible, lethal damage to the midgut and caecal epithelia. The amphiphilic nature of C14 allowed a formulate to be produced that not only was as active against the larvae as C14 in solution, but also possessed a residual activity of at least two weeks, in laboratory conditions. Conclusions The meso-substituted synthetic porphyrin C14, thanks to its photo-sensitizing properties represents an attractive candidate for the development of novel photolarvicides for dengue vector control.

Porphyrin–silica microparticle conjugates as an efficient tool for the photosensitised disinfection of water contaminated by bacterial pathogens

A tetracationic meso-substituted amphiphilic porphyrin (abbreviated as C14) was encapsulated within silica microparticles to yield a conjugate with a mean particle diameter of ca. 0.9 μm. The conjugate displayed a complete stability for at least 3 months when suspended in a neutral aqueous medium. The encapsulated C14 underwent a limited photobleaching when the conjugate was exposed to full spectrum visible light. Illumination of the silica microparticle-bound C14 by visible light resulted in the generation of singlet oxygen and induced a decrease in the survival of 4 log for a 20 min irradiation of the Gram-positive bacterium meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and a 30 min irradiation of the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli). Under identical experimental conditions photoexcited free C14 caused a decrease in viability of 5 log for MRSA and 6 log for E. coli. When the conjugate loaded with 12 μM C14 was added to a water sample contaminated with MRSA (10(8) cells per ml) a tight association of the bacterial cells with the silica microparticle-porphyrin system was achieved. Subsequent illumination of the conjugate with visible light (30 min, 100 mW cm(-2)) caused a 3 log reduction in the population of MRSA cells in the water sample. Importantly, the conjugate was readily recovered by filtration of the aqueous suspension and shown to maintain a high antibacterial photoactivity when introduced into a new MRSA-contaminated medium and irradiated.

Porphyrin self-assembled monolayers and photodynamic oxidation of tryptophan

The zinc and magnesium metalated derivatives of 5,5′-[12,12′-di(thiododecyloxy)-4,4′-phenyl)]-10,10′,15,15′,20,20′-hexakis(3,3′,4,4′,5,5′-hexakisdecyloxyphenyl)diporphyrin, 1b and 1c, have been synthesised and deposited to form self-assembled monolayer (SAM) films on the surface of gold-coated glass substrates. The SAM films have been characterized by RAIR spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. The potential for the porphyrin films to catalyze the oxidation of tryptophan within human serum albumin upon irradiation with white light has been demonstrated and attributed to the porphyrins acting as photosensitizers of oxygen to form oxidizing species.

Chapter 17:Inactivation of Microbial Pathogens by Photosensitized Processes: Environmental Applications

The photodynamic inactivation of microbial pathogens represents a very flexible technology which has a broad scope and potential for tackling a range of problems connected with the microbiological contamination of waters of different origin and physical or chemical characteristics. In this way it is possible to achieve a thorough control of the population of a variety of harmful bacteria, fungi and parasites by using a single protocol, which can be properly modulated, in fish-farming tanks, natural ponds, industrial wastewater, potable water basins. Moreover, the technique can be useful as a tool for the preservation of biodiversity through the protection of endangered species. The process can be considered as based on a natural chemical agent, the porphyrin, and a natural physical agent (sunlight or a solar simulator). Therefore, the impact of the technology on the environment is likely to be very low, especially since the dosages of the porphyrin are generally small and no significant accumulation in the application sites or their surroundings is expected.