Expanded porphyrins. Synthetic materials with potential medical utility

Abstract

A number of aromatic and nonaromatic expanded porphyrins have been prepared in the authors' laboratories. These are allowing a number of important themes to be explored, including the construction of novel cation-and anion-complexing agents and the generation of drug candidates with considerable therapeutic potential. In this paper, the use of gadolinium(III) and lutetium(III) texaphyrin derivatives as, respectively, adjuvants for X-ray radiation cancer therapy and photosensitizers for use in photodynamic treatments of cancer, atheromatous plaque, and age-related macular degeneration will be reviewed. Also discussed are the use of water soluble sapphyrins as potential¯uorescent phosphate sensors and organic soluble 2,3-dipyrrylquinoxaline derivatives as possible¯uoride anion signaling agents. Recent synthetic work, designed to produce expanded porphyrins with new shapes and novel topologies, is also summarized.

Tumor localization and antitumor efficacy of novel sapphyrin compounds

“…Porphyrins and expanded porphyrins, such as texaphyrins and sapphyrins, have potential medical use, including in the area of cancer imaging and therapy (1,11,12). Sapphyrins are expanded metal-free porphyrins with interesting chemical properties; however, only limited information is available regarding their biological activity (2).…”

“…Sapphyrins are pentapyrrolic metal-free expanded porphyrins with potential medical use in a variety of areas, including cancer therapy (1). Sapphyrins bind to anions, such as phosphate, chloride, and fluoride, and have been postulated to serve as potential anion transporters (1 -3).…”

Sapphyrins induce apoptosis in hematopoietic tumor–derived cell lines and show in vivo antitumor activity

“…Porphyrins and expanded porphyrins such as texaphyrins and sapphyrins have potential medical utility, including cancer imaging and therapy (1,19,20). For instance, the porphyrin mixture, porfimer sodium, is a drug used for the treatment of esophageal and endobronchial lung cancer via photodynamic therapy (19).…”

“…Sapphyrins are pentapyrrolic metal-free expanded porphyrins with potential medical utility (1). Sapphyrins bind to anions such as phosphate, chloride, and fluoride and have been postulated to serve as potential anion transporters (1 -3).…”

Naked-Eye Detection of Fluoride Using Zr(IV)-EDTA Complex and Pyrocatechol Violet

“…12 These chemosensors do not have any need to use a potentiostat or a spectrometer to detect redox or optical perturbations, and as a result, have substantial advantages over other molecular chemosensors. 13 Lanthanum(III), Zr(IV) and Ce(III) complexes with dye compounds have been used for the colorimetric detection of fluoride.…”