Photochemical property of two Ru(II) compounds based on 5-(2-pyrazinyl)tetrazole for cancer phototherapy by changing auxiliary ligand.

Ru(II) compounds are potential candidates for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and auxiliary ligands may have an impact on the property of the resulting coordination compounds. In the present study, two Ru(II) compounds based on 5-(2-pyrazinyl)tetrazole (Hpztz) and two classic auxiliary ligands, 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) have been prepared and characterized, namely [Ru(pztz)(bipy)2][PF6] (1) and [Ru(pztz)(phen)2][PF6] (2). The nanoparticles (NPs) of the two compounds have been prepared by self-assembly in aqueous solution. In vitro MTT assay on HeLa cells show that [Ru(pztz)(phen)2][PF6] with a lower IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) of only 7.4 µg/mL is superior to that of [Ru(pztz)(bipy)2][PF6] (17.8 µg/mL) under irradiation. Meanwhile, negligible dark toxicity have been also observed for the two compounds. In addition, in vivo fluorescence imaging suggests that [Ru(pztz)(phen)2][PF6] NPs are able to target to the tumor by enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR). Furthermore, in vivo phototherapy on nude mice demonstrate that such NPs can effectively inhibit the growth of the tumor. After treatment for 10 cycles, an obvious decrease in the tumor volume can be observed while the normal tissues, including heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney, suffer from no damage, indicating the high phototoxicity, low dark toxicity and excellent biocompatibility of [Ru(pztz)(phen)2][PF6] NPs.

Two-Photon Tracer for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2: Detection of Breast Cancer in a Live Tissue.

We have developed a two-photon fluorescent tracer (Pyr-affibody) that shows high selectivity for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2). Pyr-affibody showed absorption and emission maxima at 439 and 574 nm, respectively, with a two-photon absorption cross-section value of 40 × 10-50 cm4s/photon (GM) at 750 nm in aqueous buffer solution. The effective two-photon action cross-section value measured in HeLa cells was 600 GM at 730 nm, a value sufficient to obtain bright two-photon microscopy (TPM) images. Using Pyr-affibody, it was possible to detect HER-2 overexpressing cells and breast cancers at a depth of 90-130 µm in live mouse tissue by TPM.

Competition between photochemistry and energy transfer in UV-excited diazabenzenes. 4. UV photodissociation of 2,3-, 2,5-, and 2,6-dimethylpyrazine.

The quantum yield for HCN formation via 248 nm photodissociation of 2,3-, 2,5-, and 2,6-dimethylpyrazine (DMP, C6N2H8) was measured using diode laser probing of the HCN photoproduct. The total quantum yield is phi = 0.039 +/- 0.07, 0.14 +/- 0.02, and 0.30 +/- 0.06 for 248 nm excitation of 2,3-, 2,5- and 2,6-DMP, respectively. Analysis of the quenching data within the context of a gas kinetic, strong collision model allows an estimate of the rate constant for HCN production via DMP photodissociation, ks = 4.1 x 10(3), 1.0 x 10(3), and 1.3 x 10(4) s(-1) for 2,3-, 2,5- and 2,6-DMP, respectively. Unlike HCN produced from the photodissociation of pyrazine and methylpyrazine, the amount of HCN produced via a prompt, unquenched dissociation channel was essentially zero, suggesting little multiphoton UV absorption. The rate constants for HCN formation together with previously measured rate constants for HCN production from photodissociation of pyrazine and methylpyrazine have been used to investigate possible reaction mechanisms. The position of the methyl group affects the HCN rate constant, suggesting that the mechanism for pyrazine dissociation involves an initial step that is hindered by the addition of the methyl groups. The proposed initial molecular motion of the mechanism, an out-of-plane H atom migration across a N atom, is consistent with (1) the position of the methyl groups, (2) the dissociation lifetime of the various pyrazine molecules studied, and (3) the observed large energy transfer magnitudes from pyrazine near dissociation. These so-called "supercollisions" have been linked to low-frequency, out-of-plane motion, suggesting that the molecular motions leading to efficient energy transfer are the same motions involved in dissociation. In addition, the pyrazine (C4N2H4) 248 nm photoproduct (C3H3N) was identified as acrylonitrile using IR spectroscopy, an observation that aids in understanding the dissociation mechanism.

On the time behaviour of the concentration of pyrazinium radical cations in the early stage of the Maillard reaction.

During the early stage of the Maillard reaction pyrazinium radical cations were detected by ESR within the reaction system d-glucose/glycine. The spectra were characterized by completely resolved hyperfine structure. The partial pressure of oxygen and the radical concentrations were measured directly in the reaction mixture by ESR using solutions of the spin probe TEMPOL and of DPPH, respectively. There are quantitative and qualitative relations of the actual concentration of the radical ions to the partial pressure of oxygen, the temperature-time regime and the mechanical mixing of the reaction system. These macroscopic parameters significantly affect both the induction period and the velocity of the time-dependent formation of free radicals. From in situ variations of p(O2) and p(Ar) including the connected mixing effects caused by the passing the gases through the reaction mixture, steric and chemical effects of the stabilization of the radical ions were established. The determination of suitable and relevant conditions for stabilization and subsequent radical reactions contributes to the elucidation of the macroscopically known antioxidant activity of Maillard products.

Irreversible inhibition of sodium transport by the toad urinary bladder following photolysis of amiloride analogs.

Active sodium transport was completely and irreversibly inhibited in toad urinary bladders photolyzed in the presence of iodoamiloride.