Cationic porphyrin derivatives for application in photodynamic therapy of cancer

BÁRBARA P PRACK MCCORMICK; M FLORENCIA PANSA; LAURA N MILLA SANABRIA; CARLA M B CARVALHO; M AMPARO F FAUSTINO; MARIA GRAÇA P M S NEVES; JOSÉ A S CAVALEIRO; NATALIA B RUMIE VITTAR; VIVIANA A RIVAROLA

Laser Physics

Astro Ltd

Año: 2014 vol. 24 p. 1 - 8

1555-6611

Current studies in photodynamic therapy (PDT) against cancer are focused on the development of new photosensitizers (PSs), with higher phototoxic action. The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic eficiency of tricationic meso substituted porphyrin derivatives (Tri-PyC Me -PF, Tri-PyC Me -Ph, Tri-PyC Me -CO2Me and Tri-PyC Me -COH) with the well-known tetra-cationic TPM. The phototoxic action of these derivatives was assessed in human colon adenocarcinoma cells by cell viability, intracellular localization and nuclear morphology analysis. In the experimental conditions used we determined that after light activation -PF, -Ph and -CO4Me cause a more significant decline of cell viability compared to -CO2H and T4PM. These results suggest that the nature of the peripheral substituent influences the extent of cell photodamage. Moreover, we have demonstrated that PS concentration, physicochemical properties and further light activation determine the PDT response. All porphyrins were clearly localized as a punctuated pattern in the cytoplasm of the cells, and the PDT scheme resulted in apoptotic cell death after 3 h post-PDT. The tri-cationic porphyrin derivatives Tri-PyC Me-PF, Tri-PyC Me-Ph and Tri-PyC Me-COMe showed a promising ability, making them good photosensitizer candidates for oncological PDT.