INVESTIGADORES
ALVAREZ Maria Gabriela
artículos
Título:
Methoxyphenyl porphyrin derivatives as phototherapeutic agents
Autor/es:
M. E. MILANESIO; MARÍA GABRIELA ALVAREZ, M ELISA MILANESIO, VIVIANA RIVAROLA, EDGARDO DURANTINI, ALCIRA BATLLE, HAYDÉE FUKUDA; E.DURANTINI
Revista:
Curr. Bioactive Compounds
Editorial:
Bentham Science Publishers
Referencias:
Año: 2010 vol. 6 p. 97 - 105
ISSN:
1573-4072
Resumen:
Tetrapyrrolic macrocycles occupy a central place in bioorganic chemistry. On the basis of their photophysical
properties, natural and synthetic porphyrin derivatives have found specific biomedical applications, particularly in the
field of detection and treatment of neoplastic tissues. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) consists in the administration of a
photosensitizer, which is selectively retained by the malign cells. The subsequent irradiation with visible light in the
presence of oxygen specifically leads to cell death and tumor destruction. In the last years, methoxyphenyl porphyrin
derivatives were evaluated as active phototherapeutic agents. Therefore, this review deals with the evolution of these
photosensitizers with potential applications in PDT. The photodynamic activity of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-
methoxyphenyl)porphyrin was studied in different biomimetic and biological media. This synthetic porphyrin and its
complexes with metals are effective photosensitizers, which were used as model compounds to investigate the theoretical
and instrumental aspects of PDT. Modification in the structure of methoxyphenyl porphyrins was performed to obtain an
increase in the efficiency and selectivity of the agents. In these compounds, the presence of methoxy groups appears to be
beneficial from the standpoint of tumor localization. Biochemical studies using a monocationic porphyrin showed
efficient tumor regression and the cellular damage was mainly dependent on caspase-3 activity signaling response
associated with apoptosis. Also, methoxyphenyl porphyrins attached to other structures, such as porphyrin and fullerene
C60 were investigated as phototherapeutic drugs. In particular, porphyrin-C60 dyad was found to be an active compound,
even under anoxic condition. The studies indicated that porphyrins bearing methoxy groups in the periphery of the
macrocycle are interesting photosensitizers with potential application in photodynamic tumor therapy.