Evaluation of the synergistic effects of nitric oxide and singlet oxygen produced by ruthenium-phthalocyanine complexes in lung tumors: photochemical and photophysical studies, in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity

• Grant number: 12/50588-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2012
• End date: September 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy
• Agreement: King's College London
• Principal Investigator: Roberto Santana da Silva
• Grantee: Roberto Santana da Silva
• Principal researcher abroad: Lea Ann Dailey
• Institution abroad: King's College London , England
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Ribeirão Preto
• Associated research grant: 10/11937-5 - Nitrosyl ruthenium-quantum dot compounds as nitric oxide and singlet oxygen producer agents: photochemical, photophysical and cytotoxical aspects, AP.R

Abstract

The research developed in our laboratory (da Silva; USP) involves chemical, photochemical, kinetic, pharmacological and cytotoxic studies of NO donor compounds. We have published several articles involving this subject and among these the first publication reporting the photoinduced electron transfer process for NO release was described in a work by our group (SAUAIA et al, 2003 and 2005). The pursuit of these species is of great interest since there is the possibility of creating a new clinical therapy against cancer, based on light irradiation, the technique known as photodynamic therapy (PDT). Although more studies have been published since our first report, as far as we are aware there are no studies correlating the photochemical, photophysical and cytotoxic activity of compounds that produce NO and singlet oxygen at the same time. The ongoing project concerns the possibility of releasing ROS and ERONs in a controlled manner by photoinduction using ruthenium nitrosyl compounds. It is expected that using this system potentiates the antitumor activity in neoplastic systems. The luminescence characteristic of phthalocyanine compounds will also allow cell imaging, which will be exploited to provide us with evidence on the effectiveness of therapy. (AU)