This manuscript presents the first report on antimicrobial photo-inactivation in vitro using tetra-cationic porphyrins with peripheral platinum(II) bipyridyl complexes against Gram-positive bacteria. Two isomeric tetra-cationic porphyrins (3TPyP and 4TPyP) were tested against clinically important bacterial species. The antimicrobial activity assays were performed at specific photosensitizer (PS) concentrations under dark and white-light LED irradiation conditions for 120 min. The porphyrin 3-PtTPyP was the most efficient PS against the bacteria tested, inhibiting bacterial growth in just 15 min and 30 min at low concentrations (3.75 and 0.45 µM). The minimal inhibitory concentration of the porphyrin increased in the presence of reactive oxygen species scavengers, indicating that singlet oxygen and radical species likely participated in the photo-oxidation mechanism. In addition, the checkerboard assay that tests the association of compounds, showed a synergistic effect, suggesting a potentiation of the antibacterial effect when porphyrin was tested in combination with ciprofloxacin and vancomycin. Thus, tetra-cationic porphyrins containing platinum(II) complexes are promising agents for microbial photo-inactivation as an alternative therapy against infections.
Keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Cationic porphyrins; Gram-positive bacteria; Photodynamic therapy; Pt(II) porphyrins.
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