Perinatal Arterial Ischemic Stroke Is Associated to Materno-Fetal Immune Activation and Intracranial Arteritis.

The medium-size intra-cranial arteries arising from the carotid bifurcation are prone to perinatal arterial ischemic strokes (PAIS). PAIS' physiopathology needs to be better understood to develop preventive and therapeutic interventions that are currently missing. We hypothesized that materno-fetal inflammation leads to a vasculitis affecting selectively the carotidian tree and promoting a focal thrombosis and subsequent stroke.

Deciphering PDT-induced inflammatory responses using real-time FDG-PET in a mouse tumour model.

Dynamic positron emission tomography (PET), combined with constant infusion of 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG), enables real-time monitoring of transient metabolic changes in vivo, which can serve to understand the underlying physiology. Here we investigated characteristic changes in the tumour FDG-uptake profiles in relation to acute localized inflammatory responses induced by photodynamic therapy (PDT). Dynamic PET imaging with constant FDG infusion was used with EMT-6 tumour bearing mice.

Phthalocyanine-peptide conjugates: receptor-targeting bifunctional agents for imaging and photodynamic therapy.

The synthesis of a series of new zinc phthalocyanine-peptide conjugates targeting the gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and integrin receptors is reported. Two alternative synthetic methods based on Sonogashira cross-coupling of an iodinated zinc phthalocyanine with acetylenic bombesin or arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) derivatives, either in solution or on solid phase, are presented. The water-soluble conjugates were screened for their photodynamic efficacy against several cancer cell lines expressing different levels of GRP and integrin receptors, and their intracellular localization was evaluated via confocal fluorescence microscopy.

Predicting efficacy of photodynamic therapy by real-time FDG-PET in a mouse tumour model.

Dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) combined with the constant infusion of 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) as a tracer permits real-time monitoring of systemic transient metabolic changes resulting from photodynamic therapy (PDT) in tumour bearing animals. The effect of PDT on tumour FDG uptake rates was evaluated using four different sulfonated phthalocyanine analogs as photosensitizers (PS) in combination with either continuous or fractionated illumination protocols. Mice bearing two EMT-6 tumours were infused with FDG to start PDT 30 min later.

PET imaging using 64Cu-labeled sulfophthalocyanines: synthesis and biodistribution.

Sulfonated metallo phthalocyanines (MPcS(n)) are second generation photosensitizers advanced for photodynamic therapy of various medical applications. A series of ZnPcS(n) was demetallated and subsequently converted to the corresponding [(64)Cu]CuPcS(n) in 40-50% isolated yields and >98% radiochemical purities. Tumor-bearing mice were injected with the (64)Cu-labeled products and subjected to 3-h dynamic PET imaging studies.

Mono- and tri-cationic porphyrin-monoclonal antibody conjugates: photodynamic activity and mechanism of action.

Two cationic porphyrins bearing an isothiocyanate group for conjugation to monocolonal antibodies have been synthesized. The two porphyrins conjugated efficiently to three monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD104, anti-CD146 and anti-CD326), which recognize antigens commonly over-expressed on a range of tumour cells. In vitro, all conjugates retained the phototoxicity of the porphyrin and the immunoreactivity of the antibody.

Structure-activity relationships of mono-substituted trisulfonated porphyrazines for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer.

The impact of lipophilicity on biological parameters critical to photodynamic efficacy was analyzed for a new generation of trisulfobenzo(mononaphtho)porphyrazines. The porphyrazines were substituted on the naphtho ring with linear alkynyl side chains of various lengths. When compared to the analogous phthalocyanine structures, the added benzo ring in the porphyrazine structures increased the lipophilicity for analogs with short alkynyl chains, while this effect disappeared for analogs with longer side chains.

Trisulfonated porphyrazines: new photosensitizers for the treatment of retinal and subretinal edema.

A new series of water-soluble, mononaphthotrisulfobenzoporphyrazines, bearing an alkynyl side chain of varying lengths on the naphtho ring, were prepared and tested for their efficacy to inhibit plasma extravasation when used as photosensitizers during photodynamic therapy (PDT) of the retina in the rat. The hexynyl substituted photosensitizer was the most potent, and was able to produce complete inhibition, at low doses of photosensitizer and light.

Pd-catalyzed Heck reaction for the synthesis of isomeric metallo tetravinylsulfo phthalocyanines and their photosensitizing properties.

Tetrasulfonated zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPcS(4)) is a potent sensitizer for photodynamic therapy of various medical conditions. Depending on its mode of preparation the material consists of mixtures of ortho and meta sulfonated derivatives as well as regioisomers with different photodynamic potency. To study the effect of the site of substitution on biological parameters that contribute to overall photodynamic efficacy, a series of pure ortho- and meta-tetravinylsulfonated metallo phthalocyanines MPc-o/m-(VS)(4) were prepared from the corresponding tetraiodo phthalocyanines using the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction (Heck reaction).

Targeting gastrin-releasing peptide receptors of prostate cancer cells for photodynamic therapy with a phthalocyanine-bombesin conjugate.

Sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanines (AlPcS) are potent photosensitizers for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. In this study we evaluate the possibility to improve the efficacy of AlPcS-PDT for prostate cancer by targeting tetrasulfonated aluminum phthalocyanines (AlPcS(4)) to the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) through coupling to bombesin. A mono-carbohexyl derivative of AlPcS(4) is attached to 8-Aoc-bombesin(7-14)NH(2) via an amide bridge to yield a bombesin-AlPcS(4) conjugate linked by a C-14 spacer chain.

PET imaging of apoptosis with (64)Cu-labeled streptavidin following pretargeting of phosphatidylserine with biotinylated annexin-V.

Purpose: In vivo detection of apoptosis is a diagnostic tool with potential clinical applications in cardiology and oncology. Radiolabeled annexin-V (anxV) is an ideal probe for in vivo apoptosis detection owing to its strong affinity for phosphatidylserine (PS), the molecular flag on the surface of apoptotic cells. Most clinical studies performed to visualize apoptosis have used (99m)Tc-anxV; however, its poor distribution profile often compromises image quality.

Photodynamic activity of substituted zinc trisulfophthalocyanines: role of plasma membrane damage.

We recently reported that variations in cellular phototoxicity among a series of alkynyl-substituted zinc trisulfophthalocyanines (ZnPcS3Cn) correlates with their hydrophobicity, with the most amphiphilic derivatives showing the highest cell uptake and phototoxicity. In this study we address the role of the plasma membrane in the photodynamic response as it relates to the overall hydrophobicity of the photosensitizer. The membrane tracker dye 1-[4(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenylhexa-1,3,5-triene (TMA-DPH), which is incorporated into plasma membranes by endocytosis, was used to establish plasma membrane uptake by EMT-6 cells of the ZnPcS3C, by colocalization, and TMA-DPH membrane uptake rates after photodynamic therapy were used to quantify membrane damage.

Structure-photodynamic activity relationships of substituted zinc trisulfophthalocyanines.

To identify optimal features of metalated sulfophthalocyanine dyes for their use as photosensitizers in the photodynamic therapy of cancer, we synthesized a series of alkynyl-substituted trisulfonated phthalocyanines and compared their amphiphilic properties to a number of parameters related to their photodynamic potency. Varying the length of the substituted alkynyl side-chain modulates the hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of the dyes providing a linear relationship between their n-octanol/water partition coefficients and retention times on reversed-phase HPLC. Aggregate formation of the dyes in aqueous solution increased with increasing hydrophobicity while monomer formation was favored by the addition of serum proteins or organic solvent.