Porphyrin photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy and its applications

1Photodynamic therapy (PDT) employs a combination of photosensitizer, light, and molecular oxygen, to selectively target cells like tumor cells via cytotoxic activity. Tumor and macrophage cells have a preferential uptake of photosensitizers. These photosensitizers are activated on exposure to light and become photosensitizers’ triplet, which, react with molecular oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). The hydroxyl radical is another reason which leads to the reaction between the photosensitizer and molecular oxygen, including the Fenton reaction of hydrogen peroxide, which in turn produces more hydroxyl radicals. These cytotoxic molecules induce a series of biological reactions that ultimately lead to cell death (Figure 1). The outcomes of PDT depend on the nature of the cells, as well as the on the properties and localization of photosensitizer and the illumination conditions. Its obvious advantage is that cause negligible damage to the surrounding normal tissues and has little systemic effects. Moreover, there is no obvious mechanism of acquiring resistance to PDT, which makes it a promising modality for treatment of skin, esophageal, and lung cancers, as well as other non-neoplastic diseases such as atherosclerosis, macular degeneration, and rheumatoid arthritis. In the last century, two Nobel prizes were awarded in the field of PDT (Table 1). Extensive research has been carried out in basic and clinical area using PDT; however, the potential application of PDT against atherosclerosis and tumors has not seen much development. This review summarizes the available research evidence on the use of porphyrin photosensitizers and the application of PDT against tumors and atherosclerotic lesions. The objective is to provide a better understanding of PDT for new comers to the field.

2PDT has three functional elements: photosensitizer, optical wavelength of light and molecular oxygen. The fundamental biological reaction in PDT involves absorption of light energy by the photosensitizers and its subsequent transfer to induce chemical alteration.

3The first generation photosensitizers, hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) and photofrin II (a purified form of HPD) were employed in early clinical trials of PDT (Table 2). HPD was shown to be effective in brain, laryngeal, lung, skin, gastric, and esophageal carcinomas to a certain degree. In fact, hematoporphyrin, but not its derivatives, was discovered during the early period. In vitro studies of photosensitizer uptake in brain tumor samples showed significantly higher mean HpD uptake in glioblastoma multiforme as compared to that in anaplastic astrocytoma. Cerebral glioma patients treated with adjuvant PDT following surgical resection were associated with better prognosis. While it was not effective for tumor-localization after purification, HpD appeared which added acetic-sulfuric acid mixtures based on the origin structure.

4However, after a large number of clinical studies, the limitations of photofrin, such as its complex composition and low light absorption rate were identified. In one pre-clinical study, the photodynamic therapy dose, apparent reacted singlet oxygen, and predict local control rate were measured for photofrin-mediated PDT of radiation-induced fibrosarcoma tumors via mice-bearing models. In addition, photofrin-mediated PDT treatment of young patients with advanced colorectal cancer showed amelioration of clinical symptoms and reduction in the incidence of complications. However, due to the relatively short wavelength of light, only a small amount of light can enter into the tumor through the skin, while most of the light is blocked on the skin surface; this essentially results in cutaneous photosensitive toxicity. These disadvantages promoted the development of second-generation photosensitizers.

5Compared with the first generation photosensitizer, the composition and structure of the second generation photosensitizer are clear, and the photosensitivity, absorption spectrum and tissue selectivity have been greatly improved. To a certain extent, the first generation of photosensitizer has complex components, which is very bad for the selectivity of tissue and the stability of photodynamic damage intensity. Most of the second generation photosensitizers are based on porphyrin structure, such as benzoporphyrins, purpurins, texaphyrins, phthalocyanines, naphthalocyanines, and protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). PpIX was shown to have has a longer wavelength absorption in erythroleukemia cells. It is a precursor of heme, and is involved in the metabolism of heme through the combination of mitochondrial transport proteins. Another commonly used photosensitizer is 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), the biological precursor of PpIX. A phase I trial of ALA-mediated PDT in 11 patients with for oral leukoplakia demonstrated the benefits and the safe dose of ALA-PDT could be administered with a low light dose of up to 4J/cm2. Other photosensitizers, like mono-aspartyl chlorin e6 (NPe6), temoporfin, and hexylpyropheophorbide (HPPH), are based on the chlorin structure (Table 3).

6Other second-generation photosensitizers were designed to meet specific demands, such as the new mitochondria-targeting photosensitizers, DLC (delocalized lipophilic cations) which can preferentially be localized in mitochondria. Based on DLC, three DLCs-porphyrin conjugates: a core modified porphyrin-rhodamine B cation, a core modified porphyrin-mono-triphenyl phosphonium cation, and a core modified porphyrin-di-tPP cation, were prepared. The chemical structure of the original photosensitizer was modified to improve the problem of organelle targeting and to increase the anti-tumor effect of drugs. After di-imide reduction, disulfonated tetraphenyl porphine [TPPS(2a)] was transferred into disulfonated tetraphenyl chlorin [TPCS(2a)] for better induced activation of gelonin, which delayed tumor growth in athymic mice on subcutaneous irradiation. There is a possibility that most new porphyrins are excited at a higher wavelength illumination; therefore, a deeper light penetration of photosensitizer is needed for further studies.

7Physicochemical interactions of TPCS(2a) and TPPS(2a) have been widely studied to determine their properties such as solubilization and aggregation in aqueous media. and the researchers could provide the data in an extensive survey when a clinical trial is on the plan. Production of ROS is important for the therapeutic effect of PDT, and the singlet oxygen is considered as the most important ROS. So, the ability of porphyrins to generate singlet oxygen is a key element of enquiry in PDT-related studies. Electrochemical sensors have been used for continuous real-time monitoring of the effect of photosensitizer-induced PDT reactions on the functional integrity of the bacterial cell envelope. The effect of PDT with TSPP (meso-tetrakis (4-sulfonatophenyl) porphine) on the production levels of ROS and the metalloproteinase 2 activities has evoked much interest, as has the relationship between the local accumulation of photosensitizers and the intratumor histological alterations. Fluorescent probes have been used to directly monitor the formation of singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals during photodynamic therapy. Safety is a key concern, including identification of the minimum energy levels of light and concentrations. Phototoxicity of two porphyrin photosensitizers, TPPS4 and MgTPPS4, was investigated in vitro on Hela cells to determine the illumination parameters that were associated with eradication of HIV-1 infectivity without damaging the infected leukocytes. The influence of these electrical charges on the iontophoretic delivery of photosensitizers was further evaluated in vitro and in vivo, in an attempt to achieve maximum accumulation of photosensitizers, whilst ensuring minimum retention in skin tissues.

8As time caught up with those ideas, many investigators were not satisfied with outcomes of research on single drug. A combination of PDT and pulsed dye laser (PDL) was assessed in a proof-of-concept preliminary clinical trial. The combinations of two or three photosensitizers were proposed to be more effective. Weyergang et al. evaluated PDT as neoadjuvant to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeting drugs, Cetuximab, Erlotinib, and Tyrphostin AG1478. The results showed that these three drugs in combination with PDT showed a superior anti-tumor effect by causing prolonged inhibition of extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK). In addition, poor response of cells on EGFR activation deficiency was overcome by the combination of PDT and Gefitinib, as elucidated by Postiglione I et al..

9Chemical modifications for more accurate targeting have led to the discovery of the next generation photosensitizers, for example mTHPC, introduced by Berenbaum. It is questionable whether the drug is the second or the third generation photosensitizer. Based on these characteristics, considerable efforts have been devoted to develop specific carriers for delivery of photosensitizers in order to avoid phototoxicity to normal tissues, such as skin.

10Third-generation photosensitizers are now being developed to improve the PDT outcomes (Table 4). Currently the two main loci of research are gene engineering mediated PDT and use of nanotechnology in PDT. In a study, photosensitizers were injected post transfection of neoplastic cells by firefly luciferase, which could activate the photosensitizer in the organism, leading to the destruction of neoplastic cells.

11Chlorin E6 (Ce6), one of photosensitizers, was incorporated into nanoparticles through the formation of ion complexes to enhance absorption by the tumor and to improve the levels of ROS generation. Ce6 was also developed to improve cancer imaging and treatment due to the strong NIR (in the near-infrared range of 650–800 nm) absorption and the capability of encapsulating in the gold vesicles (GVs). There is no doubt that such behavior is not limited to tumor. Indocyanine green (ICG)-loaded nanospheres were designed by Nagahara et al. to improve the bactericidal effect of PDT on Porphyromonas gingivalis. In order to improve antimicrobial effects and to reduce damage to peripheral tissues, the absorption of photosensitizers by microbial cells should also be enhanced. Optimized photophysical characteristics such as the generation of cytotoxic ROS and the depth of light penetration are also important; hence our group loaded Ce6 onto upconversion nanoparticles to afford greater penetration than that achieved with Ce6 alone. Recently, a new kind of green titania was facilely synthesized, which showed much enhanced near NIR absorption. This feature enables it to be stimulated with 980 nm Laser in the combined PDT and photothermal therapy (PTT), which is greatly beneficial for improving tissue penetration depth.

12For the treatment of tumor, surgery is not a radical treatment for some kinds or extent of cancer. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are not effective enough and have several side effects. Therefore new approaches for treatment of cancer are necessary. There are three distinct mechanisms involved; one of these is direct phototoxicity to tumor cells, leading to apoptosis, necrosis or autophagic cell death (Figure 1). The other two are destruction of the tumor vascular system and immune-mediated inflammatory damage to tumor cells (Table 5).

13Direct phototoxic effect of PDT on tumor cells involves irreversible photo damage to specific targets, such as membranes and organelles, at the molecular level. Other cell death pathways are usually considered as useful targets to induce, and thus increase photokilling in tumor cells harboring defects in apoptotic pathways, which is a crucial step in carcinogenesis and therapy resistance. Focusing on the molecular differences of cell death mechanisms induced by PDT will certainly provide valuable clues for the development of new therapeutic modalities and drug selectivity to improve the efficacy of PDT against cancer cells.

14Apoptosis is characterized by nuclear condensation and general cellular shrinkage, and involves a series of caspases, endonucleases, and other enzymes. During the first study of PDT-mediated activation of apoptosis, little was known regarding the mechanisms involved in apoptosis. However, it was clear that initiation of the process could be triggered by the translocation of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol. The basic method to analyze the effect of killing cells is always related to some original data, for example, the increase in ratio of apoptotic cells with increase in light dosage or intracellular photosensitizers concentration. However, those skills are not enough, with the development of the exploration, and more sophisticated substance related to apoptosis needs to be emphasized.

15The apoptotic caspases are involved in two converging pathways: extrinsic and intrinsic. When an apoptotic signal is released, all caspases can be activated as the initiator caspase or an upstream caspase. Preliminary studies by Kessel et al. indicated that apoptosis inhibition resulted from translocation of photosensitizers from the membrane to the cytosol during irradiation, which was associated with photo damage to caspase-3, a major substance during induction of apoptosis, leading to selective photo damage to procaspases-9, and -3. Pretreatment with specific caspase-6 inhibitor abolished the PDT-induced cleavage of lamin A/C and subsequent apoptosis, which suggests that the cleavage of lamin A/C is enhanced by activation of caspase-6, and that it is crucial for apoptotic induction.

16The initiation of apoptosis was shown to be inhibited by over-expression of Bcl-2. The Bcl-2 protein family includes at least 20 members, and until now, the role of Bcl-2 in PDT is not clear. Studies have shown that over-expression of Bcl-2 in cells inhibited PDT-induced apoptosis to a certain extent; however, in another study, the levels of Bcl-2 protein increased following an increase of efficiency of PDT. Kim et al. detected the effects of Bcl-2 over-expression with aluminum phthalocyanines as the photosensitizing agent in PDT. The results showed that caspase-3 activation was accompanied by the enhanced mitochondrial cytochrome c release under 50 mJ/cm2 light dose of PDT treatment, and a stronger apoptosis reaction. However, if Bcl-2 over-expression leads to stabilization of Bax, selective Bcl-2 photo damage can result in a high Bax: Bcl-2 ratio and an enhanced apoptotic response to mitochondrial photo damage.

17Autophagic cell death is characterized by double-membrane autophagic vacuoles, also called autophagosomes. Some studies have shown that PDT-induced cell death is closely related to autophagy activation. Buytaert et al. reported that PDT with hypericin via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) pathway led to an immediate loss of SERCA2 protein levels, causing disruption of Ca2+ homeostasis and cell death. And, it was causal to cell killing. At that time, Bax/Bak gateway was repaired to prevent apoptosis, but to undergo autophagy-associated cell death as revealed by electron microscopy and biochemical analysis.

18In general, the photosensitizers that targeting the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, can promote cell apoptosis by inducing oxidative stress within a certain range,; however, localization of the photosensitizer in the cell membrane or the lysosome probably pushes cells to necrosis due to blockade of apoptotic pathway. In certain PDT-induced necrosis, some photosensitizers directly tend to induce cell necrosis, rather than apoptosis-induced secondary necrosis.

19In recent years, therapeutic effects of ALA-based PDT against urothelial carcinoma were shown to be enhanced by deferoxamine, a kind of traditional iron chelating agents, while PDT-induced cell damage to the surrounding tissues was found to be under the safe threshold. Coincidentally, Li et al. reported improved therapeutic effects of PDT by combining bortezomib with verteporfin-based PDT. The results showed stronger activation of apoptosis in endothelial cells and greater suppression of tumor growth with combination therapy, as compared to that with individual treatments. Gold nanorods were used as a photothermal therapy agent in combination with Ce6-based PDT, and the whole complex system was found to target the tumor site more efficiently.

20Minimizing the photoxicity of PDT is an important aspect of application of PDT against tumors. One study showed that the expected and unexpected effects observed were pain, and inflammatory reactions after PDT for skin cancer. The pain intensity was correlated with the anatomical localization of the lesion. The patients reported a higher intensity of pain in lesions located on the head and neck as compared to those on the trunk and limbs. Some researchers intended to change to a new photoactive drug in order to reduce the phototoxic effect on the peritumoral normal tissues. For example, Rigual et al. used surgery and HPPH-based PDT in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Others have favored lowering the dose of PDT without reducing the photo killing of tumor cells, with or without the concomitant use of anticancer drugs. For example, Ahn et al reported that a combination of PDT and anticancer drug cisplatin was more effective in reducing tumor growth in mice xenograft. In addition, treatment of tumor cells with sub-lethal PDT induced the formation of angiogenic factors and survival molecules, and this self-protective reaction made tumor cells resistant to treatment. Elsewhere, a combination of anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib and PDT was shown to strengthen the original apoptotic response and anti-tumor efficiency induced by PDT alone.

21Over the past decades, appreciation of the role of PDT on cardiovascular system, especially atherosclerosis, has burgeoned because PDT can not only act on tumor cells, but also other unwanted cells (Table 6). Atherosclerosis (also known as arteriosclerotic vascular disease), has long been considered as a lipid deposition disease accompanied by an ongoing inflammatory response. The macrophages and smooth muscle cells phagocytic oxidized low-density lipoprotein until the ability of cholesterol efflux from the lipid-loaded cells is damaged.

22Atherosclerotic plaques mainly include stable and vulnerable plaques. Stable atherosclerotic plaques, usually asymptomatic, contain extracellular matrix and smooth muscle cells. While vulnerable plaques are composed of foam cells, macrophages, and the extracellular matrix, which is usually weak and prone to rupture. Exposure of substances such as collagen to circulation following plaque rupture initiates the formation of thrombus in the lumen. In order to avoid the occurrence of acute cardiovascular events, new therapeutic strategies are needed to improve treatment efficacy in atherosclerosis and to make the vulnerable plaque more stable, or reduce the intracellular content of plaque, or induce the effective outflow of lipid.

23Hsiang et al. determined the feasibility of treating atherosclerotic stenoses with photodynamic therapy. Although the results demonstrated resolution in stenoses in some miniswines, questions concerning light dosimetry, mechanism of action, and long-term effects remain to be determined. Amemiya et al. performed photodynamic therapy using the photosensitizer, photofrin, and the results showed widening of vascular lumen with reduction in intima and media, which suggests that PDT effectively reduced atherosclerotic lesions. HpD-based PDT was used to treat intimal hyperplasia in rabbits by Usui et al. The results showed decreased smooth muscle cell growth and suppressed intimal hyperplasia response. In 2001, Yamaguchi et al. observed that Lu-Tex-based PDT reduced atherosclerotic lesions of experimental graft coronary artery disease, which contributed to treat accelerated atherosclerosis associated with transplantation of new ideas. More and more research results indicated that people should go further, not content with “whether” but properties in detail. In 2003, Kereiakes DJ et al. assessed the safety and tolerability of Motexafin lutetium-mediated phototherapy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stent deployment. The results showed that there are rare serious dose-limiting toxicities and side effects (paresthesia and rash). In 2008, Kwon et al. reported that ALA-based PDT significantly reduced the atheromatous plaque without causing damage to the medial wall, although the smooth muscle cells persisted in the aortic media. In the future, further optimization of PDT is needed to eliminate the residual smooth muscle cells in order to prevent restenosis.

24Focusing on the mechanism was needed to apply PDT on atherosclerosis clinically better on the basis of some research. Macrophages play an important role in atherogenesis by releasing cytokines and taking up modified low-density lipoprotein, resulting in the accumulation of lipids within plaque and damage to cholesterol efflux and the formation of a necrotic lipid core. With further release of proteolytic enzymes, macrophages are more likely to promote plaque rupture. Every element in the process may potentially be modulated by PDT. Macrophages whose membrane contains scavenger receptor, can be recognized by scavenger receptor-based PDT and targeted. Moreover, oxidized-LDL also can be used as a delivery vehicle for photosensitizers to the macrophages, enhancing the targeting and therapeutic effects of PDT in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

25In addition to the macrophages, smooth muscle cells also play an essential role in atherogenesis, and several studies are focusing on the effects of PDT on such cells. The photosensitizer PpIX of the dosage and the illumination energy was optimized to the appropriate lower range, and it can be sure that the main way of cell death is apoptosis the main cell death pathway could be the most important way to ensure that the cell death was apoptosis. Tian et al. also measured the apoptotic or necrotic ratio of smooth muscle cells induced with PpIX-based PDT. The results showed that the cellular viability reduced with higher illumination energy and higher intracellular PpIX dosage. Waksman et al. determined the PDT induced reduction of plaque inflammation and repopulation in smooth muscle cell-rich plaque models. In addition to the two kinds of cells mentioned above, the proliferation and the invasive migration of fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and matrix protein cross-links repair were also reported to be enhanced following PDT. The reconstituted endothelium had a beneficial effect on preventing the influx of macrophages into the intimal layer, but the precise mechanisms are not clear. Some studies showed that PDT enhanced vessel healing and repair. However, PDT-induced arterial wall weakening and aneurismal dilation have also been reported, which suggests the need for further research using more desirable illumination energy or photosensitizer dosage, or even new photosensitizers. The relation between the photosensitizer and its targets was regarded to be based on the covalent conjugation of a photosensitizer and cell-surface receptors. Therefore, this process may need to be investigated further in detail.

26Based on the prior experience with tumors, diagnostic application of PDT has been suggested in the context of cardiovascular disease. PDT may discriminate the normal and calcified segments of atherosclerotic plaques in real-time imaging; it may also be possible for PDT to estimate the various forms and stages of atherosclerosis in the future.

27PDT represents a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic modality with potential application in a variety of disciplines, and its future application development space is only limited by the imagination of researchers. This review provides a summary of current knowledge base on the application of PDT for treatment of tumors and atherosclerosis, rather than identifying the entire spectrum of the potential use of PDT. Furthermore, the clinical use of PDT in high-risk surgical procedures may need to be given serious consideration for different individual conditions, tumors, and atherosclerosis locations. For new and better photosensitizers, some characteristics have been generally accepted as criteria for ideal photosensitizers (Table 7). There is now a general consensus on the lack of any obvious damage caused by preventive PDT. However, there is a controversy of how much PDT can possibly be used in prevention, not in the treatment. We placed a special emphasis on decreasing phototoxicity. The photosensitizer will be more precise on location and prevention of direct damage by PDT to the surrounding tissues. It will be better to have memory ability with the photosensitizer and it will follow the order of the debris of atherosclerotic plaques to reach the targets.