ABSTRACT
Radioiodinated porphyrin derivatives and the corresponding nonradioactive iodine introduced compounds, [125I]I-TPPOH ([125I]3), [125I]I-l-tyrosine-TPP ([125I]9), I-TPPOH (3), and I-l-tyrosine-TPP (9) were designed, synthesized, and evaluated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. In cytotoxicity assays, 3 and 9 exhibited significant cytotoxicity under light conditions but did not show significant cytotoxicity without light irradiation. Biodistribution experiments with [125I]3 and [125I]9 showed similar distribution patterns with high retention in tumors. In photodynamic therapeutic (PDT) experiments, 3 and 9 at a dose of 13.6 µmol kg-1 weight with 50 W single light irradiation onto the tumor area significantly inhibited tumor growth. These results indicate that the iodinated porphyrin derivatives [123/natI]3 and [123/natI]9 are promising cancer theranostic agents.