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Photodynamic Therapy Using Novel Zinc Phthalocyanine Derivatives and a Diode Laser for Superficial Tumors in Experimental Animals

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Photodynamictherapy (PDT) using a photo sensitizing agent and several light sources has been shown to have nonspecific and noninvasive effects on superficial cancers. Phthalocyanine (Pc) derivatives as novel photosensitizers, trifluoroethoxy-coatedzinc Pcconjugated with β-cyclodextrin (βCD-4TFEO-Pc) was synthesized and its photodynamic effect in vitro and in vivo was evaluated. βCD-4TFEO-Pc alone was completely non-cytotoxic even at high concentrations, and showed excellentphotodynamic effects in B16-F10 and HT-1080 celllines. The in vivo antitumor effect of βCD-4TFEO-Pc against B16-F10 cells transplanted on to the chorioallantoic membranes of chickembryos was 52.7%, but that of laserirradiation alone and photosensitizer alone was 2 (50 mW). These data suggest that βCD-4TFEO-Pc is a useful photosensitizer for the treatment of superficial cancers. If a high-power LED with optimal wavelength is developed, excellent treatment of superficial cancers could be achieved by applying βCD-4TFEO-Pc for PDT.
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Journal of Cancer Therapy, 2015, 6, 53-61
Published Online January 2015 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/jct
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jct.2015.61008
How to cite this paper: Obata, T., Mori, S., Suzuki, Y., Kashiwagi, T., Tokunaga, E., Shibata, N. and Tanaka, M. (2015) Pho-
todynamic Therapy Using Novel Zinc Phthalocyanine Derivatives and a Diode Laser for Superficial Tumors in Experimental
Animals. Journal of Cancer Therapy, 6, 53-61. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jct.2015.61008
Photodynamic Therapy Using Novel Zinc
Phthalocyanine Derivatives and a Diode
Laser for Superficial Tumors in
Experimental Animals
Tohru Obata1*, Satoru Mori2, Yuka Suzuki1,2, Takuto Kashiwagi1, Etsuko Tokunaga2,
Norio Shibata2, Motohiro Tanaka1
1Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aichi-Gakuin University,
Nagoya, Japan
2Department of Frontier Materials, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology,
Nagoya, Japan
Email: *tobata@dpc.agu.ac.jp
Received 16 December 2014; accepted 30 December 2014; published 14 January 2015
Copyright © 2015 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Abstract
Photodynamictherapy (PDT) using a photo sensitizing agent and several light sources has been
shown to have nonspecific and noninvasive effects on superficial cancers. Phthalocyanine (Pc) de-
rivatives as novel photosensitizers, trifluoroethoxy-coatedzinc Pcconjugated with β-cyclodextrin
(βCD-4TFEO-Pc) was synthesized and its photodynamic effect in vitro and in vivo was evaluated.
βCD-4TFEO-Pc alone was completely non-cytotoxic even at high concentrations, and showed ex-
cellentphotodynamic effects in B16-F10 and HT-1080 celllines. The in vivo antitumor effect of
βCD-4TFEO-Pc against B16-F10 cells transplanted on to the chorioallantoic membranes of chick-
embryos was 52.7%, but that of laserirradiation alone and photosensitizer alone was <7% at the-
dose of 50 µg pereggand 100 J/cm2 (50 mW). These data suggest that βCD-4TFEO-Pc is a useful
photosensitizer for the treatment of superficial cancers. If a high-power LED with optimal wave-
length is developed, excellent treatment of superficial cancers could be achieved by applying βCD-
4TFEO-Pc for PDT.
Keywords
Photodynamic Therapy, Zinc Phthalocyanine, Photosensitizer
*
Corresponding author.
T. Obata et al.
54
1. Introduction
In recent years, photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a photosensitizing agent and several light sources has been
shown to have nonspecific effects upon malignant diseases. Considerable antitumor effects of PDT have been
demonstrated in patients with superficial cancers such as central-type early-stage lung cancer, early-stage gastric
cancer, skin cancer, mucosal intraepithelial neoplasia, melanoma, and prostate cancer [1]-[4].
An important advantage of PDT in cancer treatment is that the photosensitizer and light are inert, and that lo-
calization of the photodynamic effect is extremely specific. To ensure that PDT is effective against deep tumors,
several investigations are being conducted: development of new photosensitizers, application of light sources
with deep penetration into tissues, and control of skin irritation as a diverse effect of PDT with photosensitizers
[5]-[7].
Recently, several photosensitizers such as porfimer, talaporfin, temoporfin, and verteporfin have been ap-
proved for PDT in many countries [3] [8]-[10]. Porfimer, talaporfin, and temoporfin are used for superficial
cancers and verteporfinfor age-related macular regeneration. These photosensitizers are derivatives of porphyrin
or chlorin, and need a specific light source using red light at a wavelength of around 650 nm.
Phthalocyanine (Pc) derivatives are being studied intensively as second-generation photosensitizers for PDT
owing to their intense absorption in the red visible region, high efficacy in producing singlet oxygen, and ease of
chemical modification and formation [11]-[13]. Using Pc derivatives as photosensitizers means that their lipo-
philic, hydrophilic, and self-aggregation properties can be modulated by modification of the substituents on the
periphery of the Pc core.
As part of our research on the development of novel functionalized Pc derivatives and syntheses of fluo-
rine-containing compounds [14]-[16], we synthesized trifluoroethoxy-coated zinc Pc conjugated with β-cyclo-
dextrin (βCD-4TFEO-Pc). We determined photodynamic effects using a diode laser of wavelength 664 nm. In
the present study, we ascertained if newly developed zinc Pc derivatives as photosensitizers have photodynamic
effects in vitro and in vivo.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Tumor Cells
Murine melanoma (B16-F10) and human fibrosarcoma (HT-1080) cells were obtained from JCRB Cell Bank,
Japanese Collection of Research Bioresources (Osaka, Japan). The cells were maintained in RPMI-1640 me-
dium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and antibiotics, and were harvested by trypsinization before
use.
2.2. Photosensitizer
All test compounds are shown in Figure 1. Pc coated with a trifluoroethoxy functional group and conjugated
with cyclodextrin (CD) contained zinc as a central chelating metal. According to Das et al., perfluoro zinc Pc
was synthesized. The CD conjugation to zinc Pc were synthesized by our research team [17]. Synthetic methods
and chemical properties will be reported elsewhere. Talaporfinwas kindly provided by the Pharmaceutical Re-
search Center of Meiji Seika Pharma (Kanagawa, Japan).
2.3. Laser Equipment
A diode laser (kindly provided by Panasonic, Osaka, Japan) was employed to obtain a wavelength of 664 nm
(which enables deep penetration into tissues). The laser beam was delivered via quartz fibers. Laser light was ir-
radiated vertically onto tumor cells and tissues. Previously, we had confirmed that this condition for laser irradi-
ation did not affect tumor cells in vitro. The power of basically irradiated laser was adapted at 100 J/cm2 (150
mW), but some irradiated laser power was controlled by irradiated time.
2.4. In Vitro Chemosensitivity of Photosensitizers with Laser Irradiation
Aliquots (495 µL) of a cell suspension (2000 cells/mL) in exponential growth were seeded into 48 microwell
plates and preincubated for 24 h at 37˚C. Five microliters of various concentrations of photosensitizers in dime-
thyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was added to each well and incubated for 5 h. After washing out test photosensitizers
T. Obata et al.
55
Figure 1. Structures of phthalocyanine derivatives.
with fresh medium twice, 500 µL of fresh medium was added to each well and laser irradiation was undertaken
vertically at 100 J/cm2 (150 mW). The plate was incubated for 24 h, and the inhibitory effects of photosensitiz-
ers on the growth of tumor cells were examined using a colorimetric assay, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-
diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Briefly, 30 µL of MTT solution (3 mg/mL in phosphate-buffered saline)
was added to each well, and cell cultures were incubated further for 4 h at 37˚C. After removal of the medium,
resultant MTT formazan crystals were dissolved in 400 µL of DMSO. The absorbance of each well was meas-
ured at 570 nm by using a microplate reader (MTP-800AFC; Corona Electric, Hitachinaka, Japan), and the inhi-
bition ratio (IR) was calculated using the following formula:
( ) ( )
% 1 100IR T C=−×
where C is the mean value of the optical densities of the control group and T is that of the treatment group. Half-
maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was defined as the concentration of photosensitizers required to induce
a 50% reduction in growth relative to that in the control. The IC50 value was determined by graphical correlation
of the doseresponse curve with at least 3 photosensitizer concentrations.
2.5. In Vivo Evaluation of PDT Using a Chick Embryo Assay
According to our former study [18]-[21], in vivo antitumor effects can be evaluated and correlated using a chick
embryo assay. Fertilized chicken eggs (Goto Farms, Gifu, Japan) were incubated in a forced-draft incubator
maintained at 37˚C and 70% humidity. On day 10, eggs were candled and Y-shaped blood-vessel junctions on
the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) were marked on the shell with a pencil. Then, about 10-mm square “win-
dow” was made through the mark. The CAM was depressed by applying gentle suction at the air sac, and the
shell membrane was stripped off carefully to expose the CAM. A sterilized Teflon® ring (diameter, 8 mm) was
put on the junction of the blood vessels, and 10 µL of B16-F10 cell suspension (2.0 × 107 cells/mL) was pipetted
through the ring into the opening. The window in the shell was sealed with OpSite® (Smith & Nephew, London,
UK) and the treated egg was incubated again.
On day 11, the Teflon® ring was removed from the CAM surface and the eggs were incubated for 24 h. Test
photosensitizers were injected into the CAM vein with a 30-G needle on day 12. Briefly, a portion of shell di-
rectly overlying a blood vessel was removed carefully. The vein was made visible with a drop of paraffin oil ap-
plied to the shell membrane. Test photosensitizers (50 µg/host) were injected into the CAM vein with 0.2 mL of
T. Obata et al.
56
physiological (0.9%) NaCl solution. Then, the photosensitizer-injected window was sealed with Tegaderm®
(Sumitomo 3M, Tokyo, Japan). Thirty minutes after photosensitizer administration, the diode laser was used for
vertical irradiation of the tumor at 100 J/cm2 (150 mW) through the opened window. The eggs were incubated
for 5 more days.
On day 17, the tumor that had grown on the CAM was excised from the CAM, dissected free of adhesive
chick tissue, and weighed. The IR for the tumor was calculated using the following formula:
( ) ( )
% 1 100IR B A=−×
where A is the mean tumor weight of the control group and B is that of the treatment group. The effectiveness of
each photosensitizer was analyzed using the Student’s t-test. The in vivo antitumor experiment was approved
(13-023) by the ethics committee of Aichi Gakuin University.
2.6. Statistical Analysis
All in vitro data are expressed as means in several independent experiments. The data of in vivo are expressed as
means ± SD and significance are performed using Student’s t-test. P-values < 0.001 were considered statically
significant.
3. Results
3.1. In Vitro Antitumor Effect Using PDT against B16-F10 and HT-1080 Cells
The in vitro antitumor effects of Pc derivatives are shown in Figure 2. In B16-F10 cells, zinc Pc exhibited the
same cytotoxicity with or without laser irradiation. However, HT-1080 cells treated with zinc Pc were sensitive
to laser irradiation. βCD-4TFEO-Pc alone was completely non-cytotoxic even at a high concentration and
showed an excellent photodynamic effect in both cell lines. These results suggested that βCD-4TFEO-Pc had a
wide margin of safety, and that the toxicity against normal cells and non-irradiated cells was quite low. Talapor-
fin demonstrated a good photodynamic effect, but high IRs were noted in photosensitizers alone and the PDT
group at high concentrations. IC50 values of various compounds that were subjected to/were not subjected laser
irradiation are summarized in Table 1. All test photosensitizers had higher IC50 values than that of photosensi-
tizers that underwent laser irradiation, but large differences among these photosensitizers were noted. The IC50
value of any modified compound alone was increased by >70-fold than that of the mother compound (zinc Pc).
However, the photodynamic effect of all derivatives was greater than that of zinc Pc in B16-F10 cells (though
high sensitivity of laser irradiation with zinc Pc was noted in HT-1080 cells). In particular, derivatives with both
CD and trifluoroethoxy functional groups exhibited excellent photodynamic effects. βCD-4TFEO-Pc had a
greater difference in IC50 value than the other derivatives, and the greatest photodynamic effect (156-fold) was
Figure 2. Growth inhibitory effect of PDT on B16-F10 melanoma and HT-1080 cells in vitro. Cells were treated
with zinc Pc (●), βCD-4TFEO-Pc (▲) and talaporfin (■) at 37˚C for 24 h and irradiated with (closed) or without
(opened) the laser. Cell viability was determined by the MTT assay 24 h after laser irradiation. The cytotoxicity of
the laser alone was <10%.
T. Obata et al.
57
Table 1. Comparison of IC50 values with laser PDT among phthalocyanine derivatives.
IC50 (µM)
B16-F10 HT-1080
Drug only PDTa Effective ratiob Drug only PDTa Effective ratiob
Zinc Pc 0.023 0.015 1.5 0.068 0.0021 32.4
4TFEO-Pc 50 31.8 1.6 27.5 5.52 5.0
βCD-tBu-Pc 16.7 1.10 15.2 5.31 0.58 9.2
αCD-4TFEO-Pc 50 1.29 38.8 50 1.32 37.9
βCD-4TFEO-Pc 50 1.12 44.6 50 0.32 156
γCD-4TFEO-Pc 50 1.25 40.0 50 1.67 29.9
Talaporfin 35.1 8.50 4.1 31.7 12.8 2.5
aPDT comprised laser irradiation. bEffective ratio shows ratio vs. drug only.
found in HT-1080 cells. In contrast, there was a slight difference in talaporfin IC50 value between the PDT group
and talaporfin only group.
3.2. Optimization of the Dose of Laser Irradiation
The sensitivity of βCD-4TFEO-Pc with various doses of laser irradiation (0 - 200 J/cm2) to B16-F10 cells is
shown in Figure 3. A high concentration of βCD-4TFEO-Pc alone resulted in slight cytotoxicity (22%). Laser
irradiation alone (without βCD-4TFEO-Pc) resulted in virtually no cytotoxicity. In cells treated with a combina-
tion of βCD-4TFEO-Pc and laser irradiation, tumor growth was inhibited significantly by laser irradiation in a
dose-dependent manner. This dependency of the dose of laser irradiation was also confirmed in the case of other
zinc Pc derivatives and cell lines (data not shown).
3.3. In Vivo Antitumor Activity Using Chick Embryos
βCD-4TFEO-Pc showed excellent antitumor activity in vitro; therefore, photosensitizers were evaluated in an in
vivo antitumor assay system using fertilized chicken eggs. Tumor cells of various species can be inoculated on
the CAM because chicken eggs are naturally immunodeficient before hatching, and good proliferation of tumor
cells has been observed in several studies [18]-[21]. Several investigations using the chick embryo assay to eva-
luate antitumor activity in vivo have been carried out. This assay method is rapid, convenient, inexpensive, and
causes less pain to experimental animals. The antitumor effects of βCD-4TFEO-Pc against B16-F10 cells trans-
planted onto the CAM of a chick embryo are shown in Figure 4. The tumor IR of βCD-4TFEO-Pc with laser ir-
radiation was 52.7% (p < 0.001), and that of laser irradiation alone and photosensitizer alone was <7% at 50 µg
per egg and at 100 J/cm2 (150 mW).
4. Discussion
Zinc Pc derivatives are expected to be second-generation photosensitizers because they have relatively high ab-
sorbance at red light, which can reach deep into tissues. However, they show π-π stacking, which results in ag-
gregation in water, and they also have low solubility [11] [12]. To overcome these drawbacks, we synthesized
novel zinc Pc derivatives containing fluorine [14] [16] [17] and also conjugate CD molecules.
In novel zinc Pc derivatives, βCD-4TFEO-Pc exhibited greater photodynamic effects than those seen with ta-
laporfin, which is used widely for the treatment of early-stage lung cancer and malignant primary brain tumors.
Our study showed that βCD-4TFEO-Pc was non-toxic and that laser irradiation was needed for βCD-4TFEO-Pc
to exhibit its antitumor activity because it can produce singlet oxygen as an active species to abrogate tumor
proliferation. Though the wavelength used (664 nm) was not optimal against βCD-4TFEO-Pc, it showed great
sensitivity to laser irradiation. The equipment to create laser light was developed for the PDT of talaporfin in
clinical scenarios; therefore, the wavelength of irradiation matched exactly to the intense absorption of talaporfin
T. Obata et al.
58
Figure 3. Correlation of laser energy and cytotoxicity of B16-F10 melanoma-
treated β-CD-4TFEO-Pc in vitro. B16-F10 cells were treated with photosensi-
tizer at various concentrations for 5 h. After removing the photosensitizer,
cells were irradiated with or without the laser (0 (), 25 (), 50 (), 100 (),
200 (●) J/cm2, 664 nm). Cytotoxicity was determined by the MTT assay 24 h
after irradiation. Each point is the mean of ≥3 independent experiments, and
error bar represents the standard deviation.
Figure 4. In vivo antitumor activity of βCD-4TFEO-P determined using a
chick embryo assay. Antitumor activity of βCD-4TFEO-Pc with laser irradia-
tion against the growth of B16-F10 tumor cells on CAM was evaluated on
day 17. aSignificance determined by the Student’s t-test (p < 0.001) is indi-
cated. Values show the inhibition ratio (%) vs. control tumor weight.
[22]. The intense absorption of βCD-4TFEO-Pc was shifted to around 700 nm owing to modification of the Pc
skeleton, and light of wavelength 664 nm that was irradiated was not of sufficient wavelength to exert the max-
imum photodynamic effect for βCD-4TFEO-Pc. Nevertheless, the excellent antitumor activity of βCD-4TFEO-
Pc was demonstrated in the present study and its clinical application as a photosensitizer is expected. A photo-
sensitizer that is sensitive to a specific light source and laser irradiation are important factors in PDT for treat-
ment of superficial cancer. The dependency of laser irradiation is revealed in Figure 3 and it was suggested that
a high-powered laser exhibited antitumor activity. High-power laser irradiation can produce heat at localized ir-
radiated areas; thus, evaluation of antitumor activity is thought to involve photodynamic and hyperthermic ef-
fects. At 100 J/cm2, laser irradiation showed effective antitumor effects without producing heat. Even low-power
laser irradiation could activate photosensitizers to produce singlet oxygen as an active species to abrogate tumor
proliferation.
T. Obata et al.
59
Conjugation of CDs to zinc Pc dramatically improved water solubility, and coating of fluorine to zinc Pc pre-
vented self-aggregation. When several zinc Pc derivatives coated with fluorine (including 4TFEO-Pc) were ex-
amined for photodynamic effects, it appeared that introduction of fluorine led to an increase in photodynamic
effects. CD conjugation resulted in an increase in hydrophilicity (which is thought to be a useful property for in-
testinal absorption, increases in bioavailability, and drug preparation) [23] [24]. Conventional photosensitizers
exhibit non-specific cytotoxicity against non-irradiated cells; hence, patients should shade from light including
sunbeam such treatment for several days to avoid side effects. Even high concentrations of βCD-4TFEO-Pc
showed very low cytotoxicity upon treatment with βCD-4TFEO-Pc alone. Low sensitivity is a very useful prop-
erty for a photosensitizer. This useful phenomenon was observed with derivatives with fluorine and CD conju-
gation. βCD comprising six glucose molecules seemed to be optimal for photodynamic effects; thus, the Pc mo-
tif probably matched the pore size of βCD.
The mother compound, Zinc Pc, showed higher cytotoxicity than βCD-4TFEO-Pc and talaporfin in B16-F10
and HT-1080 cells. This activity was non-specific for laser irradiation in B16-F10 cells. Laser irradiation did not
completely affect the chemosensitivity of zinc Pc. It seems that the extremely high cytotoxicity of zinc Pc
masked photodynamic effects. However, in HT-1080 cells, zinc Pc showed moderate photodynamic effects with
high cytotoxicity. Thus, we suspected that laser irradiation was not sufficient to penetrate B16-F10 cells (which
originate from melanoma and contain large amounts of melanin pigment), because there were reported that pig-
mented tumors were resistance to the PDT [25] [26]. B16-F10 and HT-1080 cells treated with talaporfin and la-
ser irradiation achieved weak photodynamic effects, but at high doses, the photodynamic effect elicited by tala-
porfin disappeared. The range of drug concentrations used was narrow; therefore, the plasma concentration after
drug administration and area of laser irradiation should be monitored very carefully.
In this paper, the CAM assay using chicken eggs as in vivo chemosensitivity test was performed. The model
of chick embryos can correctly predict a clinical response of chemotherapy in the several tumors such as lung
cancer and malignant glioma and any study as in vivo model were adapted the CAM assay [19] [20] [27]. A total
of 50 µg/egg βCD-4TFEO-Pc was administered into the CAM vein of eggs and the inhibitory effect of tumor
growth was evaluated by tumor weight on day 17 from fertilization. A significant difference in the βCD-4TFEO-
Pc group plus laser irradiation compared with the control group was noted with regard to tumor proliferation on
the CAM of eggs, but laser irradiation and βCD-4TFEO-Pc alone did not show inhibitory effects. Moreover, in
one egg with βCD-4TFEO-Pc plus laser irradiation, the implanted tumor was quite small on day 17. If an optim-
al dose and timing of βCD-4TFEO-Pc administration and optimal wavelength of laser irradiation are applied,
excellent antitumor activity (e.g., abrogation of tumor proliferation) could be achieved.
5. Conclusion
We suggest that βCD-4TFEO-Pc is a useful photosensitizer for the treatment of superficial cancers. If a high-
power light source [7] to match its specific wavelength can be developed, excellent treatment of superficial can-
cers could be achieved by applying βCD-4TFEO-Pc for PDT.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Pharmaceutical Research Center of Meiji Seika Pharma and Panasonic. The in vivo anti-
tumor experiment performed using chick embryo was approved (13-023) by the ethics committee of Aichi Ga-
kuin University.
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... In the study of Obata., et al. PDT is still considered a new and promising antitumor strategy [14]. The advantages of PDT over surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy reduce long-term morbidity, and PDT is one of the future treatment options for patients with residual or recurrent disease. ...
... The interdisciplinary uniqueness of PDT is a source of inspiration to experts in physics, chemistry, biology and medicine, and its further development and new applications can be limited only by enormous imagination. In this study, new photosensitizer called Phthalocyanine (Pc) was used in Murine melanoma [14]. ...
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The traditional surgical method for cancer treatment has not been successful in removing primary or metastatic tumors. Che-motherapy and radiation therapy methods, as well as cancer cells and healthy cells affect the process of treatment nausea, hair loss, immune system weakness, such as there are many side effects. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a regulator for the treatment of many malignant carcinomas that can cause immunogenic apoptosis. Despite these adversities in surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, significant progress has been made in PDT research recently. This review article is aimed to present recent studies.
... [c] Δ = [1/λ abs (Q y )À 1/λ em ] × 10 7 . phthalocyanine, [31] which were evaluated by mouse B16 melanoma cells. ...
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Natural bacteriochlorophyll‐a was converted to chemically stable free‐base derivatives with different substituents along the y‐axis. Compared to the natural type compound methyl pyrobacteriopheophorbide‐a possessing the C3‐acetyl and C13‐keto‐carbonyl groups, its deoxo‐bacteriochlorin lacking the C3‐ and C13‐carbonyl groups showed a blue‐shift of the Qy peak. On the other hand, introduction of the dicyanomethylene group(s) at the 3¹‐ and/or 13¹‐position(s) caused an opposite effect due to its electron‐withdrawing ability as well as the expansion of the π‐conjugation system along the y‐axis, and the Qy peak maxima were red‐shifted to around 780 nm. These semi‐synthetic bacteriochlorins in an aerated solvent could generate singlet oxygen upon illumination with far‐red light, which was evaluated by mouse B16 melanoma cells to be applicable as photosensitizers. Besides this, it was demonstrated that they could be utilized as electron‐donating materials combined with fullerene derivatives to fabricate bulk‐heterojunction organic solar cells.
... However, the ZnPc-PDT-treated group showed significant decrease in tumor size of > 80%, the treatment appeared to be well-tolerated, as it did not affect the survival of the developing chicken embryos. These results correlates with the findings of Obata et al. [37] who showed the antitumor ...
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The palliative treatment options for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are currently not satisfying. The use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) has gained much attention in the treatment of several cancers and has been approved as an alternative approach in treating different forms of cancers. We investigated for the first time the PDT effects of tetra-triethyleneoxysulfonyl zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) on HCC cells. Photoactivation of ZnPc loaded HCC cells resulted in a dose- and time- dependent growth inhibitory effect, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), induced cytotoxic effects and the induction of apoptosis in the investigated HCC cells (HepG2 and Huh-7). ZnPc-PDT inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells by up to 90% accompanied by a down-regulation of the activity and expression of the proliferation relevant mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-protein extracellular signal-regulated (ERK ½). Moreover, an up-regulation of proapoptotic BAX and a down-regulation of antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expressions were observed with both proteins implicated in mitochondria-driven apoptosis. The investigation of the anti-tumor effect of ZnPc-PDT in vivo using the chicken chorioallantoic membrane assays (CAM) revealed a strong reduction in the size of HCC tumor plagues >80% after 4 days of PDT-treatment without affecting the survival of the developing embryo. The pronounced anti-proliferative and anti-tumor effects of ZnPc-PDT both in vitro and in vivo render ZnPc-PDT as a promising palliative treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma.
... [10] Actually, these systems have attracted an increasing attention not only for the preparation of dyes and pigments [11] but also as a functional substance in solar cells, [12] a detecting component in chemical sensors, [13] in optical storage medium, [14] a photoconducting agent in photocopying machines, [15] an electrocatalyst, [16] and a photodynamic agent for cancer therapy. [17] There are many phthalocyanines containing diverse substituents in literature, such as electron-donating substituents, electron-withdrawing substituents, or polarionizable substituents attached at the peripheral regions of phthalocyanine ring. [18] Nevertheless, it is necessary to indicate that the functional group affects strongly some features such as solubility, aggregation, absorption, photophysical, and photochemical properties. ...
... A total occlusion of chorioallantoic membranes vessels and improved photodynamic properties were observed by Chin et al. (2014) after photoactivation of a substituted ZnPc. Obata et al. (2015) demonstrated a significant growth inhibition of B16-F10 tumor cells transplanted to chorioallantoic membranes of chickembryos irradiated with trifluoroethoxy-ZnPc formulations conjugated with β-cyclodextrin. Likewise, Kuzyniak et al. (2016;, by working with substituted ZnPcs, showed a significant reduction of tumor growth and changes in the vascular network of chorioallantoic membranes. ...
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Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a highly specific and clinically approved method for cancer treatment in which a nontoxic drug known as photosensitizer (PS) is administered to a patient. After selective tumor irradiation, an almost complete eradication of the tumor can be reached as a consequence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which not only damage tumor cells, but also lead to tumor-associated vasculature occlusion and the induction of an immune response. Despite exhaustive investigation and encouraging results, zinc(II) phthalocyanines (ZnPcs) have not been approved as PSs for clinical use yet. This review presents an overview on the physicochemical properties of ZnPcs and biological results obtained both in vitro and in more complex models, such as 3D cell cultures, chicken chorioallantoic membranes and tumor-bearing mice. Cell death pathways induced after PDT treatment with ZnPcs are discussed in each case. Finally, combined therapeutic strategies including ZnPcs and the currently available clinical trials are mentioned.
... 10 Zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) has been proved to be as promising PC for PDT owing to properties such as visible red region absorption ability, high singlet oxygen quantum yield, and high fluorescence quantum yield. 11,12 However, the hydrophobicity is the main hurdle in its clinical administration. Various nanomaterial-based delivery systems such as polymeric nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, micelles, liposomes, etc. have been established to overcome this limitation. ...
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In this study, a distinct photoamenable nanoparticle-based drug delivery system was developed for highly efficient targeted on-demand delivery, fluorescence imaging and therapy, by incorporating zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) into liposomes. The hyperthermia, produced by AuNPs under LED light irradiation, enhance the liquidity of liposomal membrane and promote the instantaneous release of ZnPc from the carriers realizing the concept of on-demand release. In addition, the local hyperthermia also resulted in thermal damage of cancer cells along with photodynamic effect and achieved a synergetic effect of photodynamic and photothermal therapy. The developed probes showed a high breast cancer carcinoma cells (MCF-7 cell line) inhibition up to 86.7% under red light irradiation. Further, in vivo experiments suggested the high tumor accumulation as well as the antitumor effect in breast tumor-bearing female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The outcomes demonstrate the capability of these probes as a novel drug delivery system to co-deliver therapeutic agents with photothermal agents, will have an enormous potential for future diagnosis and therapy.
... Pc also has promising use in chemical sensor as shown by Braik et al. [35] where they used Co(II) phthalocyanine acrylate polymer for perchlorate anion detection [35]. In the field of medicine, derivatives of pc are now being used in photodynamic therapy of cancer as they show strong absorption in far red-light in the wavelength 600-800 nm [35,36]. Pc derivatives are a promising photosensitizer in fight of pathogenic microbes. ...
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Microbial pathogens have increasingly shown multidrug resistance posing a serious threat to the public health. Advances in technology are opening novel avenues for discovery of compounds that will mitigate the ever-increasing drug-resistant microbes. Use of photodynamic photosensitizer is one of the promising alternative approaches since they offer low risk of bacteria resistance as they use generated reactive oxygen species to kill the microbes. Phthalocyanine (Pc) is one such photosensitizer which has already shown promising antimicrobial photodynamic therapeutic properties. Previous studies have shown effectiveness of the Pc against Gram-positive bacteria. However, its effectiveness toward Gram-negative bacteria is limited by the impermeability of the bacteria’s outer membrane which is made up of lipopolysaccharides layer. The effectiveness of this photosensitizer is determined by its photophysical and photochemical properties such as singlet/triplet lifetimes, singlet oxygen quantum yields, and fluorescence quantum yield. Therefore, this review focuses on the recent significance advances on designing Pc that have this improved property by either conjugating with nanoparticles, quantum dots, functional groups in peripheral position, considering effect of cationic charge, and its position on the macrocycle.
... The lead n-perfluorobutyl construct was capable of inducing necrosis and apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Obata et al. have prepared a, b, and g-cyclodextrin trifluoroethoxy (CD-TFEO) zinc phthalocyanines for antitumor treatment in B16-F10 and HT-1080 cell lines [75]. The b-CD-TFEO ZnPc was more effective than the PDT approved drug Talaporfin in both cell lines, under identical conditions. ...
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The design of self oxidation-resistant catalytic materials based on organic molecules, although ad-vantageous due to the ability to control their structures, is limited by the presence of labile C-H bonds. This mini-review summarizes recent work aimed at first-row transition metal complexes of a new class of coordinating ligands, fluoroalkyl- substituted fluorophthalocyanines, RfPcs, ligands in which all, or the majority of their C-H bonds are replaced by a combination of fluoro- and per-fluoroalkyl groups yielding porphyrins-bioinspired, catalyst models. In the case of homogeneous systems, Cobalt(II) complexes catalyze the aerobic oxidation of thiols to disulfides, a reaction of both biological significance and industrial importance. Zinc(II) complexes photo-generate excited state singlet oxygen, 1O2, resulting in both the incorporation of O2 in C-H bonds or, depending on the reaction parameters, oxidation of dyes, model pollutants. Catalyst heterogenization using oxidic and other supports yields stable, active hybrid materials. Functionalized RfPcs with acidic (-COOH) or basic (-NHxRy, x + y = 2) groups exhibit scaffolds that afford both conjugation with biological vectors for theranostic applications as well as hybrid materials with superior RfPc-support stability. Electrodes modified with hybrid RfPc-containing supports have also been used in photo-oxidations, replacing enzymes and H2O2 associated reagents with a combination of light and air. An analytical device employed for the nano-level detection of environmentally deleterious antibiotics has been constructed.
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Three novel fluorinated/ non-fluorinated triphenylamine axially substituted silicon phthalocyanines (TPA-FBPA-SiPc, TPA-BPA-SiPc and TPA-SiPc) with AIE character were synthesized by using silicon phthalocyanine (SiPc) as a core, triphenylamine (TPA) moieties as terminal groups, and fluorinate or non-fluorinate-bisphenol A as bridge groups. Such designed molecules showed typical emissions for SiPc at 675-688 nm as well as emissions for TPA moieties at 396 nm. Their photophysical and photochemical properties are affected by both the fluorinate-bisphenol A substitutions and TPA substitutions. TPA-FBPA-SiPc with both fluorinate-bisphenol A and TPA substitutions possessed the highest fluorescence intensity, fluorescence quantum yields as well as singlet oxygen yields. Besides, TPA-SiPc with only TPA substitutions could not only avoid the aggregation-caused quenching of phthalocyanines but also exhibited obvious AIE character in THF/water mixtures due to the presence of TPA moieties. This work could provide some useful structure and photophysical properties relationship for design novel phthalocyanine for photodynamic therapy.
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[1,2,3]Triazolo[4,5-h][1,6]naphthyridines and [1,3]oxazolo[5,4-h][1,6]naphthyridines were synthesized with the aim to investigate their photocytotoxic activity. Upon irradiation, oxazolo-naphtapyridines induced light-dependent cell death at nanomolar/low micromolar concentrations (EC50 0.01–6.59 μM). The most photocytotoxic derivative showed very high selectivity and photocytotoxicity indexes (SI = 72–86, PTI>5000), along with a triplet excited state with exceptionally long lifetime (18.0 μs) and high molar absorptivity (29781 ± 180 M⁻¹cm⁻¹ at λmax 315 nm). The light-induced production of ROS promptly induced an unquenchable apoptotic process selectively in tumor cells, with mitochondrial and lysosomal involvement. Altogether, these results demonstrate that the most active compound acts as a promising singlet oxygen sensitizer for biological applications.
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The usefulness of the chick embryo assay as an in vivo chemosensitivity test was studied in the prediction of the response to combination chemotherapy regimens in clinical use for lung cancer in Japan, such as cisplatin+vindesine (PV therapy), cisplatin+adriamycin+mitomycin C (PAM therapy), and mitomycin C+vindesine+cisplatin (MVP therapy). One hundred and seventeen surgical specimens of advanced lung cancer were examined by this method. All the tumor specimens tested could be grafted on the chorioallantoic membranes of chick embryos, so the evaluation rates was 100%. In this system, the efficacy rates of PV, PAM, and MVP therapy were 16.9, 13.8, and 19.0%, respectively. The efficacy of therapy was in the following order; epidermoid carcinoma>small cell carcinoma>adenocarcinoma>large cell carcinoma>adenosquamous carcinoma. Interestingly, the effect of MVP therapy on epidermoid carcinoma was significantly high. Twenty-six patients received the same chemotherapy regimens as those tested in the chick embryo assay, and 24 of them could be evaluated for clinical response. In 4 patients, the assay correctly predicted a clinical partial response (true positive). There were no false positive results for this assay, as well as 5 false negative results and 15 true negative results. The overall predictive accuracy was 79.2%. Thus, the chick embryo assay was a good predictor of the clinical outcome. This in vivo chemosensitivity assay for lung cancer is also advantageous because of its convenience, rapidity, and low cost.
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Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a light based therapy used to ablate tumors. As practiced in oncology a photosensitizing agent is applied and then activated by a specific wavelength and energy of light. This light energy in the presence of oxygen will lead to the creation of the photodynamic reaction which is cyto and vasculo toxic. This paper will review the mechanisms of action of PDT and how they may be manipulated to improve clinical outcome in cancer patients.
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Melanoma, a cancer that arises from melanocytes is one of the most unresponsive cancers to known therapies. Several studies showed encouraging results of the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using different experimental settings in vitro and in vivo as well as a few clinical reports, suggesting a possible role as an adjuvant therapy in the management of advanced melanoma (stage III and IV). In experimental settings, PDT using different protocols on human and mice melanoma cells induced significant apoptosis, necrosis, tumor growth arrest and prolonged the survival of the animals, but seldom achieved complete remission and/or was followed by recurrence and side effects. Clinical reports showed regression of choroidal melanoma and skin melanoma metastasis following PDT. PDT consists in administration of a photosensitizer, which undergoes excitation after suitable irradiation emitted from a light source and generates singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and other cytotoxic oxygen species such as superoxide anion radical (O₂·⁻) and hydroxyl radical (OH·). The antitumor effects result from the combination of direct tumor cell photodamage, destruction of tumor vasculature and activation of an immune response. To increase the effectiveness of PDT in melanoma, the therapy has to overcome the protective mechanisms like pigmentation and increased oxidative stress defense, possibly through inhibition of melanogenesis and melanosome targeted photosensitizers. The optimal protocols for tumor and vascular targeted PDT could destroy melanoma and endothelial tumor cells and activate the immune response, thus increasing the overall efficacy. Combination of PDT with immune stimulation therapies might increase the efficiency in destroying the initial tumor as well as micro metastases and decrease the melanoma relapses.
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With the unreliability of epithelial dysplasia as a predictor to determine the risk of future malignant development, subjectivity associated in evaluating dysplasia by pathologists and paucity of biomarkers that could accurately predict the progression risks in oral potentially malignant disorders (PMDs), eradication of the lesions appears to be the most desirable approach to minimize the risk of invasive cancer formation. Interventions, such as surgery and chemoprevention, have not shown promising long-term results in the treatment of these lesions, and lack of guidelines and general consensus on their management has incited much anxiety and doubts in both patients and community clinicians. Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive and minimally toxic technique that in recent years has shown great promise in the management of PMDs. In this review, we describe the historical developments in the field of PDT, its basic mechanisms, as well as related clinical studies, and its challenges in the management of oral PMDs. Based on its high efficacy and low side effects, its high patient acceptance/compliance, the simplicity of the procedure and its minimal pretreatment preparation, topical PDT is believed to have potential to play an important role in the management of PMDs, especially of the low-grade dysplasia.
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Efficacy and tumour selectivity of photodynamic therapy with two clinically approved sensitizers (mTHPC, verteporfin) were assessed for focal intracavitary photodynamic therapy (PDT) in rodents with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) at recommended drug-light conditions and at escalating sensitizer dosages. MPM tumours were generated in 15 Fischer rats by subpleural mediastinal tumour cell injection followed after 5 days by intracavitary PDT with light delivery monitored by in situ dosimetry. Animals were intravenously sensitized either with mTHPC (0.1 mg/kg, n = 3; 0.2 mg/kg, n = 3) followed after 4 days by illumination with 20 J/cm2 at 652 nm, or with verteporfin (0.6 mg/kg, n = 3; 1.2 mg/kg, n = 3) followed after 20 min by illumination with 100 J/cm2 at 689 nm. Three untreated tumour-bearing animals served as controls. Histological evaluation of the treated tumour and of adjacent normal organs was performed 10 days after tumour implantation. The extent of PDT-induced tumour necrosis was compared to the non-necrosed area and expressed in percentage. A locally invasive growing MPM tumour (3.1 ± 1 mm diameter) without spontaneous necrosis diameter was found in all animals. For both sensitizers, focal intracavitary PDT was well tolerated at drug-light conditions recommended for clinical applications. Mediastinal organs were spared for both sensitizers but verteporfin resulted in a higher extent of tumour necrosis (80%) than mTHPC (50%). Drug dose escalation revealed a higher extent of PDT-related tumour necrosis for both sensitizers (mTHPC 55%, verteporfin 88%), however, verteporfin-PDT was associated with a higher toxicity than mTHPC-PDT.
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Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) uses a photosensitizing drug in combination with visible light to kill cancer cells. PDT has an advantage over surgery or ionizing radiation because PDT can eliminate tumors without causing fibrosis or scarring. Disadvantages include the dual need for drug and light, and a generally lower efficacy for PDT vs. surgery. This minireview describes basic principles of PDT, photosensitizers available, and aspects of tumor biology that may provide further opportunities for treatment optimization. An emerging biomodulatory approach, using methotrexate or Vitamin D in combination with aminolevulinate-based PDT, is described. Finally, current clinical uses of PDT for solid malignancies are reviewed.
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Perfluoroisopropyl-substituted zinc phthalocyanines conjugated with deoxyribonucleosides have been synthesized and evaluated as photodynamic therapy agents from both spectral and biological points of view. They show non-aggregation, high chemical stability and good fluorescence quantum yields in both organic and aqueous solutions. Preliminary biological experiments revealed these conjugates to be promising candidates for the photodynamic therapy of cancer.
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To predict the efficacy of anticancer drugs such as ACNU [l-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea hydrochloride] and MCNU [l-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(methyl-α-D-glucopyranos-6-yl)-l-nitrosourea] in the treatment of malignant gliomas, the usefulness of the chick embryo assay as a Chemosensitivity test was studied. Fifty-seven surgical specimens including benign tumors were examined by this method. All tumor specimens tested could be grafted on the chorioallantoic membrane of chick embryo; the evaluable ratio was 100%. Twenty-one patients with previously untreated malignant glioma could be evaluated to test the predictability of the clinical effects, judged by computed tomography. There were 7 (78%) instances in which the assay response corresponded to a clinical partial response (true-positive). There were 2 (22%) false-positives for the assay, 0 (0%) false-negative and 12 (100%) true-negatives. The over-all predictive accuracy was 90% (19/21). Thus, a high-degree of positive association exists between the chick embryo assay and the clinical outcome. This in vivo assay system for malignant glioma is advantageous for Chemosensitivity tests because of its convenience, rapidity, and inexpensiveness.
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The antitumor effects of 2′-C-cyano-2′-deoxy-1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (CNDAC), a synthetic 1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) derivative, were examined and compared with that of ara-C in murine tumors and in various human tumors using three different chemosensitivity tests. CNDAC extended the life span of mice bearing P388 leukemia. CNDAC had a unique in vitro antitumor spectrum for human cancers different from that of ara-C. Compared with ara-C, CNDAC was more effective in 10 human tumors (2 lung, 4 stomach and 4 osteosarcoma), equal in 2 tumors (lung and fibrosarcoma) and less potent in 11 tumors (4 lung, 4 osteosarcoma, bladder, renal and epidermoid). Characteristically CNDAC showed excellent activities against tumors, refractory to ara-C, such as HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma implanted in chick embryos or athymic mice, although its cytotoxicity against HT-1080 was almost equal to that of ara-C. Thus, CNDAC is an interesting and promising agent that should be considered for further detailed preclinical evaluation.