Synthesis and In Vitro Studies of a Gd(DOTA)-Porphyrin Conjugate for Combined MRI and Photodynamic Treatment

Inorg Chem. 2020 Oct 5;59(19):14389-14398. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c02189. Epub 2020 Sep 22.

Abstract

With the aim of developing new molecular theranostic agents, a π-extended Zn(II) porphyrin as photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) linked to two GdDOTA-type complexes for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detection was synthesized. The relaxivity studies revealed a much higher relaxivity value per Gd ion for this medium sized molecule (19.32 mM-1 s-1 at 20 MHz and 298 K) compared to clinical contrast agents-a value which strongly increases in the presence of bovine serum albumin, reaching 25.22 mM-1 s-1. Moreover, the photophysical studies showed the strong ability of the molecule to absorb light in the deep red (670 nm, ε ≈ 60000 M-1 cm-1) and in the near-infrared following two-photon excitation (920 nm, σ2 ≈ 650 GM). The conjugate is also able to generate singlet oxygen, with a quantum yield of 0.58 in DMSO. Promising results were obtained in cellular studies, demonstrating that the conjugate is internalized in HeLa cells at micromolar concentration and leads to 70% of cell death following 30 min irradiation at 660 nm. These results confirm the potential of the designed molecule as an imaging and therapeutic agent.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Contrast Media / chemical synthesis
  • Contrast Media / chemistry
  • HeLa Cells
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Photochemotherapy*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry*
  • Porphyrins / chemistry*
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / chemistry

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Porphyrins
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine
  • gadolinium 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetate