Yunus Zorlu

Light-Triggered Liposomal Release: Membrane Permeabilization by Photodynamic Action

Photosensitized damage to liposome membranes was studied by using different dye-leakage assays based on fluorescence dequenching of a series of dyes upon their release from liposomes. Irradiation of liposomes with red light in the presence of a photosensitizer, trisulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPcS(3)), resulted in the pronounced leakage of carboxyfluorescein, but rather weak leakage of sulforhodamine B and almost negligible leakage of calcein from the corresponding dye-loaded liposomes. The same series of selectivity of liposome leakage was obtained with chlorin e6 that appeared to be more potent than AlPcS(3) in bringing about the photosensitized liposome leakage. Electrically neutral zinc phthalocyanine tetrasubstituted with a glycerol moiety (ZnPcGlyc(4)) was less effective than negatively charged AlPcS(3) in provoking the light-induced liposome permeabilization. On the contrary, both ZnPcGlyc(4) and AlPcS(3) were much more effective than chlorin e6 in sensitizing gramicidin channel inactivation in planar bilayer lipid membranes, thus showing that relative photodynamic efficacy of sensitizers can differ substantially for damaging different membrane targets. The photosensitized liposome permeabilization was apparently associated with oxidation of lipid double bonds by singlet oxygen as evidenced by the mandatory presence of unsaturated lipids in the membrane composition for the photosensitized liposome leakage to occur and the sensitivity of the latter to sodium azide. The fluorescence correlation spectroscopy measurements revealed marked permeability of photodynamically induced pores in liposome membranes for such photosensitizer as AlPcS(3).

Monoglycoconjugated phthalocyanines: Effect of sugar and linkage on photodynamic activity

BACKGROUND Click chemistry can be advantageously used to graft carbohydrates on phthalocyanines which are potent photosensitisers, but the effect of the presence of triazole moieties on photodynamic efficiency was not investigated systematically to date. The nature and linkage of the sugar were investigated in order to define structure-activity relationships. METHOD Two sets of monoglycoconjugated water-soluble phthalocyanines have been designed and their photodynamic activity and uptake investigated in HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells. Carbohydrates: galactose, mannose or lactose were grafted onto Zn(II) phthalocyanines either by glycosylation or by click reaction. RESULTS The triazole linkage formed by click conjugation lowered the biological efficiency for mannose and galactose, compared to classical glycosylation grafting. The mannose conjugate formed by glycosylation was the most photodynamically active, without correlation with the photosensitiser cell uptake.

Solution-Processable BODIPY-Based Small Molecules for Semiconducting Microfibers in Organic Thin-Film Transistors

Electron-deficient π-conjugated small molecules can function as electron-transporting semiconductors in various optoelectronic applications. Despite their unique structural, optical, and electronic properties, the development of BODIPY-based organic semiconductors has lagged behind that of other π-deficient units. Here, we report the design and synthesis of two novel solution-proccessable BODIPY-based small molecules (BDY-3T-BDY and BDY-4T-BDY) for organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). The new semiconductors were fully characterized by (1)H/(13)C NMR, mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization of a key intermediate reveals crucial structural properties. Solution-sheared top-contact/bottom-gate OTFTs exhibited electron mobilities up to 0.01 cm(2)/V·s and current on/off ratios of >10(8). Film microstructural and morphological characterizations indicate the formation of relatively long (∼0.1 mm) and micrometer-sized (1-2 μm) crystalline fibers for BDY-4T-BDY-based films along the shearing direction. Fiber-alignment-induced charge-transport anisotropy (μ∥/μ⊥ ≈ 10) was observed, and higher mobilities were achieved when the microfibers were aligned along the conduction channel, which allows for efficient long-range charge-transport between source and drain electrodes. These OTFT performances are the highest reported to date for a BODIPY-based molecular semiconductor, and demonstrate that BODIPY is a promising building block for enabling solution-processed, electron-transporting semiconductor films.

Improved photodynamic efficacy of Zn(II) phthalocyanines via glycerol substitution.

Phthalocyanines are excellent photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy as they have strong absorbance in the near infra-red region which is most relevant for in vivo activation in deeper tissular regions. However, most phthalocyanines present two major challenges, ie, a strong tendency to aggregate and low water-solubility, limiting their effective usage clinically. In the present study, we evaluated the potential enhancement capability of glycerol substitution on the photodynamic properties of zinc (II) phthalocyanines (ZnPc). Three glycerol substituted ZnPc, 1–3, (tetra peripherally, tetra non-peripherally and mono iodinated tri non-peripherally respectively) were evaluated in terms of their spectroscopic properties, rate of singlet oxygen generation, partition coefficient (log P), intracellular uptake, photo-induced cytotoxicity and vascular occlusion efficiency. Tetrasulfonated ZnPc (ZnPcS4) was included as a reference compound. Here, we showed that 1–3 exhibited 10–100 nm red-shifted absorption peaks with higher molar absorptivity, and at least two-fold greater singlet oxygen generation rates compared to ZnPcS4. Meanwhile, phthalocyanines 1 and 2 showed more hydrophilic log P values than 3 consistent with the number of glycerol attachments but 3 was most readily taken up by cells compared to the rest. Both phthalocyanines 2 and 3 exhibited potent phototoxicity against MCF-7, HCT-116 and HSC-2 cancer cell-lines with IC50 ranging 2.8–3.2 µM and 0.04–0.06 µM respectively, while 1 and ZnPcS4 (up to 100 µM) failed to yield determinable IC50 values. In terms of vascular occlusion efficiency, phthalocyanine 3 showed better effects than 2 by causing total occlusion of vessels with diameter <70 µm of the chorioallantoic membrane. Meanwhile, no detectable vascular occlusion was observed for ZnPcS4 with treatment under similar experimental conditions. These findings provide evidence that glycerol substitution, in particular in structures 2 and 3, is able to improve the photodynamic properties of ZnPc.

Design of a Gd-DOTA-Phthalocyanine Conjugate Combining MRI Contrast Imaging and Photosensitization Properties as a Potential Molecular Theranostic

The design and synthesis of a phthalocyanine – Gd‐DOTA conjugate is presented to open the way to novel molecular theranostics, combining the properties of MRI contrast imaging with photodynamic therapy. The rational design of the conjugate integrates isomeric purity of the phthalocyanine core substitution, suitable biocompatibility with the use of polyoxo water‐solubilizing substituents, and a convergent synthetic strategy ended by the use of click chemistry to graft the Gd‐DOTA moiety to the phthalocyanine. Photophysical and photochemical properties, contrast imaging experiments and preliminary in vitro investigations proved that such a combination is relevant and lead to a new type of potential theranostic agent.

New water-soluble copper (II) complexes including 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and l-tyrosine: Synthesis, characterization, DNA interactions and cytotoxicities

Two new water-soluble copper(II) complexes, [Cu(dmphen)2(NO3)]NO3 (1), [Cu(dmphen)(tyr)(H2O)]NO3·H2O (2) and the diquarternary salt of dmphen (dmphen = 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and tyr = L-tyrosine), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The CT-DNA binding properties of these compounds have been investigated by absorption, emission spectroscopy and thermal denaturation measurements. The supercoiled pBR322 plasmid DNA cleavage activity of these compounds has been explored by agarose gel electrophoresis. The cytotoxicity of these compounds against MCF-7, Caco-2, A549 cancer cells and BEAS-2B healthy cells was also studied by the XTT method. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibit significant cytotoxicity, with lower IC50 values than those of cisplatin.

4,5-, 3,6-, and 3,4,5,6-tert-Butylsulfanylphthalonitriles: synthesis and comparative structural and spectroscopic analyses

Three tert-butylsulfanylphthalonitriles have been prepared with optimized synthetic procedures. Their comparative structural analyses have been completed, with a focus on IR and NMR spectroscopy and refined X-ray structural data. Miscellaneous parameters such as UV absorption, melting points, and related polarity of the compounds are summarized.

Design, synthesis, and characterization of α,ω-disubstituted indeno[1,2-b]fluorene-6,12-dione-thiophene molecular semiconductors. Enhancement of ambipolar charge transport through synthetic tailoring of alkyl substituents

A series of indeno[1,2-b]fluorene-6,12-dione-thiophene derivatives with hydrocarbon substituents at α,ω-positions as side groups have been designed and synthesized. The new compounds were fully characterized by 1H/13C NMR, mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and melting point measurements. The solid state structure of the indeno[1,2-b]fluorene-6,12-dione acceptor core has been identified based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). The structural and electronic properties were also studied using density functional theory calculations, which were found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental findings and provided further insight. The detailed effects of alkyl chain size and orientation on the optoelectronic properties, intermolecular cohesive forces, thin-film microstructures, and charge transport performance of the new semiconductors were investigated. Two of the new solution-processable semiconductors, 2EH-TIFDKT and 2OD-TIFDKT, were deposited as thin-films via solution-shearing, drop-casting, and droplet-pinned crystallization methods, and their morphologies and microstructures were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The solution-processed thin-film transistors based on 2EH-TIFDKT and 2OD-TIFDKT showed ambipolar device operations with electron and hole mobilities as high as 0.12 cm2 V−1 s−1 and 0.02 cm2 V−1 s−1, respectively, with Ion/Ioff ratios of 105 to 106. Here, we demonstrate that rational repositioning of the β-substituents to molecular termini greatly benefits the π-core planarity while maintaining a good solubility, and results in favorable structural and optoelectronic characteristics for more efficient charge-transport in the solid-state. The ambipolar charge carrier mobilities were increased by two–three orders of magnitude in the new indeno[1,2-b]fluorene-6,12-dione-thiophene core on account of the rational side-chain engineering.

Octasolketal-substituted phthalocyanines: synthesis and systematic study of metal effect and substitution pattern on 13C NMR

A complete series of solketal octasubstituted phthalocyanines have been synthesized, with peripheral (β) or non-peripheral (α) substitution pattern. Their 13C NMR and UV-vis properties are compared relatively to this substitution pattern or the nature of the central metal (Ni, Zn or H2).

Binary and ternary new water soluble copper(II) complexes of l-tyrosine and substituted 1,10-phenanthrolines: Effect of substitution on DNA interactions and cytotoxicities ☆

Binary and ternary water soluble copper(II) complexes - [Cu(nphen)2(H2O)](NO3)2·H2O (1), [Cu(phen)2(H2O)](NO3)2 (2), [Cu(nphen)(l-tyr)(H2O)]NO3·2H2O (3), [Cu(phen)(tyr)(H2O)] NO3·2H2O (4) - and diquarternary salts of nphen and phen (nphen=5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline, phen=1,10-phenanthroline and tyr=l-tyrosine) have been synthesized and characterized by CHN analysis, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The CT-DNA binding properties of these compounds have been investigated by thermal denaturation measurements, absorption and emission spectroscopy. The supercoiled pUC19 plasmid DNA cleavage activity of these compounds has been explored by agarose gel electrophoresis. The cytotoxicity of these compounds against MCF-7, Caco-2, A549 cancer cells and BEAS-2B healthy cells was also studied by using XTT method. The complexes 1-4 exhibit significant high cytotoxicity with low IC50 values in compared with cisplatin. The effect of the substituents of phen and coordinated amino acid in the above complexes are presented and discussed.