Quantifying Siglec-sialylated ligand interactions: a versatile 19F-T2 CPMG filtered competitive NMR displacement assay.

Sialic-acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs) are integral cell surface proteins crucial for the regulation of immune responses and the maintenance of immune tolerance through interactions with sialic acids. Siglecs recognize sialic acid moieties, usually found at the end of N-glycan and O-glycan chains. However, the different Siglecs prefer diverse presentations of the recognized sialic acid, depending on the type of glycosidic linkage used to link to the contiguous Gal/GalNAc or sialic acid moieties. This fact, together with possible O- or N-substitutions at the recognized glycan epitope significantly influences their roles in various immune-related processes. Understanding the molecular details of Siglec-sialoglycan interactions is essential for unraveling their specificities and for the development of new molecules targeting these receptors. While traditional biophysical methods like isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) have been utilized to measure binding between lectins and glycans, contemporary techniques such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), microscale thermophoresis (MST), and biolayer interferometry (BLI) offer improved throughput. However, these methodologies require chemical modification and immobilization of at least one binding partner, which can interfere the recognition between the lectin and the ligand. Since Siglecs display a large range of dissociation constants, depending on the (bio)chemical nature of the interacting partner, a general and robust method that could monitor and quantify binding would be highly welcomed. Herein, we propose the application of an NMR-based a competitive displacement assay, grounded on 19F T2-relaxation NMR and on the design, synthesis, and use of a strategic spy molecule, to assess and quantify sialoside ligand binding to Siglecs. We show that the use of this specific approach allows the quantification of Siglec binding for natural and modified sialosides, multivalent sialosides, and sialylated glycoproteins in solution, which differ in binding affinities in more than two orders of magnitude, thus providing invaluable insights into sialoglycan-mediated interactions.

Synthesis and Characterization of Bulky Substituted Hemihexaphyrazines Bearing 2,6-Diisopropylphenoxy Groups.

New substituted [30]trithiadodecaazahexaphyrines (hemihexaphyrazines) were synthesized by a crossover condensation of 2,5-diamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole with 4-chloro-5-(2,6-diisopropylphenoxy)- or 4,5-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenoxy)phthalonitriles. The compounds were characterized by 1H-, 13C-NMR, including COSY, HMBC, and HSQC spectroscopy, MALDI TOF spectrometry, elemental analysis, IR and UV-Vis absorbance and fluorescence techniques.

Tailored Multivalent Targeting of Siglecs with Photosensitizing Liposome Nanocarriers.

The modification of surfaces with multiple ligands allows the formation of platforms for the study of multivalency in diverse processes. Herein we use this approach for the implementation of a photosensitizer (PS)-nanocarrier system that binds efficiently to siglec-10, a member of the CD33 family of siglecs (sialic acid (SA)-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins). In particular, a zinc phthalocyanine derivative bearing three SA moieties (PcSA) has been incorporated in the membrane of small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs), retaining its photophysical properties upon insertion into the SUV's membrane. The interaction of these biohybrid systems with human siglec-10-displaying supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) has shown the occurrence of weakly multivalent, superselective interactions between vesicle and SLB. The SLB therefore acts as an excellent cell membrane mimic, while the binding with PS-loaded SUVs shows the potential for targeting siglec-expressing cells with photosensitizing nanocarriers.

A Janus-Type Phthalocyanine for the Assembly of Photoactive DNA Origami Coatings.

Design and synthesis of novel photosensitizer architectures is a key step toward new multifunctional molecular materials. Photoactive Janus-type molecules provide interesting building blocks for such systems by presenting two well-defined chemical functionalities that can be utilized orthogonally. Herein a multifunctional phthalocyanine is reported, bearing a bulky and positively charged moiety that hinders their aggregation while providing the ability to adhere on DNA origami nanostructures via reversible electrostatic interactions. On the other hand, triethylene glycol moieties render a water-soluble and chemically inert corona that can stabilize the structures. This approach provides insight into the molecular design and synthesis of Janus-type sensitizers that can be combined with biomolecules, rendering optically active biohybrids.

Tuning the Nanoaggregates of Sialylated Biohybrid Photosensitizers for Intracellular Activation of the Photodynamic Response.

In the endeavor of extending the clinical use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of superficial cancers and other neoplastic diseases, deeper knowledge and control of the subcellular processes that determine the response of photosensitizers (PS) are needed. Recent strategies in this direction involve the use of activatable and nanostructured PS. Here, both capacities have been tuned in two dendritic zinc(II) phthalocyanine (ZnPc) derivatives, either asymmetrically or symmetrically substituted with 3 and 12 copies of the carbohydrate sialic acid (SA), respectively. Interestingly, the amphiphilic ZnPc-SA biohybrid (1) self-assembles into well-defined nanoaggregates in aqueous solution, facilitating cellular internalization and transport whereas the PS remains inactive. Within the cells, these nanostructured hybrids localize in the lysosomes, as usually happens for anionic and hydrophilic aggregated PS. Yet, in contrast to most of them (e. g., compound 2), hybrid 1 recovers the capacity for photoinduced ROS generation within the target organelles due to its amphiphilic character; this allows disruption of aggregation when the compound is inserted into the lysosomal membrane, with the concomitant highly efficient PDT response.

Peripherally Crowded Cationic Phthalocyanines as Efficient Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy.

Photodynamic therapy is a treatment modality of cancer based on the production of cytotoxic species upon the light activation of photosensitizers. Zinc phthalocyanine photosensitizers bearing four or eight bulky 2,6-di(pyridin-3-yl)phenoxy substituents were synthesized, and pyridyl moieties were methylated. The quaternized derivatives did not aggregate at all in water and retained their good photophysical properties. High photodynamic activity of these phthalocyanines was demonstrated on HeLa, MCF-7, and EA.hy926 cells with a very low EC50 of 50 nM (for the MCF-7 cell line) upon light activation while maintaining low toxicity in the dark (TC50 ≈ 600 µM), giving thus good phototherapeutic indexes (TC50/EC50) above 1400. The compounds localized primarily in the lysosomes, leading to their rupture after light activation. This induced an apoptotic cell death pathway with secondary necrosis because of extensive and swift damage to the cells. This work demonstrates the importance of a bulky and rigid arrangement of peripheral substituents in the development of photosensitizers.

Porphyrinoid biohybrid materials as an emerging toolbox for biomedical light management.

The development of photoactive and biocompatible nanomaterials is a current major challenge of materials science and nanotechnology, as they will contribute to promoting current and future biomedical applications. A growing strategy in this direction consists of using biologically inspired hybrid materials to maintain or even enhance the optical properties of chromophores and fluorophores in biological media. Within this area, porphyrinoids constitute the most important family of organic photosensitizers. The following extensive review will cover their incorporation into different kinds of photosensitizing biohybrid materials, as a fundamental research effort toward the management of light for biomedical use, including technologies such as photochemical internalization (PCI), photoimmunotherapy (PIT), and theranostic combinations of fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT) or photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of microorganisms.