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Ural scientists have been working on the synthesis of fluorophores for more than six years. Photo credit: UrFU
Researchers have developed inexpensive substances for tumor therapy and diagnostics.
Researchers from Ural Federal University and the Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed new fluorescent chemical compounds (fluorophores) for the latest type of cancer treatment, photodynamic therapy, which targets cancerous tumors. The substance is used both for the early detection of tumor processes by staining the damaged tissue and for their subsequent therapy by killing tumor cells without damaging healthy ones. That dyes and pigments Journal published the results of the primary studies.
Due to the availability of all derivatives in the composition and the absence of impurities that could cause side effects, the synthesis of these fluorophores is characterized by low cost. The effectiveness of the fluorophore was evaluated on HeLa cells used as a model for cervical cancer. Scientists are now investigating how the new substance affects different types of cancer cells.
New compound interacts with biomolecules of body tissues. Photo credit: UrFU
Fluorophores are chemical substances that produce visible light (photoluminescence) when exposed to ultraviolet or visible light. They can penetrate biological tissue and stain cells that are prone to inflammatory reactions.
Thus, a new compound interacts with biomolecules of body tissues and, under UV or visible radiation, stains areas where the process of tumor growth occurs. This makes it possible to determine the size of the tumor in the body and to outline its borders. During the experiments, the scientists found that the new fluorophore performs a dual function: it not only stains diseased areas, but also begins to destroy them.
“Initially, we only investigated the coloring properties of the compound,” says Grigory Zyryanov, co-author of the study and professor at the Chair of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry at UrFU.
“The compound can accumulate in specific areas of the cell – the cell membrane and the reticulum (an intracellular organelle responsible for protein folding) and under ultraviolet or visible irradiation highlight the infected areas in bright green. However, it turned out that the fluorophore then acts as a photosensitizer. That is, under the influence of optical irradiation, it begins to interact with the surrounding cellular environment (oxygen, water, etc.), generating free radicals, the so-called reactive oxygen species. These active particles enter into chemical interactions with affected cells and begin their destruction, while healthy cells are practically unaffected. This is called photodynamic therapy and is a new promising method of cancer treatment with high efficiency and minimal side effects.”
Head of the research group Grigory Zyryanov and his laboratory. Photo credit: UrFU
Scientists using the methods of heterocyclic chemistry created two experimental samples. Chemists synthesized a fluorophore based on naphthoxazole, an oxazole derivative used in the synthesis of medicinal and biochemical preparations, and a naphthalene fragment, which is used as a platform and so-called antenna for more efficient perception of optical radiation by a molecule. In addition, chemists added to the compound fragments of pyrene and anthracene, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons with a strong fluorescent response, that is, a bright glow. The pyrene-containing compound showed the highest fluorescence and anti-cancer activity.
“Pyrenes are very commonly used for bioimaging, anthracenes are less common,” says Grigory Zyryanov. “These compounds are promising for many reasons, among others we were able to show that the pyrene-containing compound already starts to glow when exposed to visible light and this is even visible to the naked eye. This is very practical, also, for example, during surgical interventions if it is still necessary for the treatment.”
Reference: “Synthesis of Novel Water-Soluble Polyarene-Substituted Naphtho[1,2-d]Oxazole-based fluorophores as fluorescent dyes and biological photosensitizers” by Nataliya V. Slovesnova, Artem S. Minin, Leonid T. Smolyuk, Olga S. Taniya, Anton N. Tsmokalyuk, Grigory A. Kim, Igor S. Kovalev, Varvara A. Pozdina , Dmitry S. Kopchuk, Alexey P. Krinochkin, Grigory V. Zyryanov, Alexander Yu Petrov and Valery N. Charushin, May 27, 2022, dyes and pigments.
DOI: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2022.110410
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