SYNTHESIS AND ENCAPSULATION IN SYNTHETIC VESICLES OF 2',3',4',5'-TETRAACETYL-RIBOFLAVIN: STUDIES ON CELL VIABILITY AND INTERACTION WITH MEMBRANES

• Grant number: 25/01136-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Mauricio da Silva Baptista
• Grantee: Felipe de Amorim Beirão
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/09603-4 - evelopment of Tetrapyrrolic Macrocycles in Bioinorganic Chemistry and Photobiology: Synthesis, Characterization and Application as New Advanced Materials in Photodynamic Therapy and Photoinactivation of Microorganisms, AP.R

Abstract

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a technique based on the interaction of light with a photosensitizer, generating reactive oxygen species to destroy rapidly proliferating tissues, such as tumors. Riboflavin, or vitamin B2, is an essential compound for the human body, serving as a precursor to coenzymes critical for cellular energy production. Due to its photochemical properties, riboflavin can be used in PDT as a photosensitizer when irradiated with blue light. Several studies have demonstrated its effectiveness and the high generation of singlet oxygen by this compound, though challenges related to its photodegradation and limited cellular uptake remain. Derivatives of riboflavin, such as 2',3',4',5'-tetraacetylriboflavin (TARF), offer greater stability against photodegradation and more effective binding to tumor tissues, specifically in the case of TARF. Furthermore, the use of TARF in PDT is promising due to its nearly identical photochemical performance to riboflavin, its high stability, the potential for modulating specific derivatives of this compound, and the low molecular volume of its lateral chain, which reduces the risk of toxicity from prolonged accumulation. Various strategies have been employed to seek alternatives that maximize the action of a photosensitizer in PDT. However, studies on TARF are still in the early stages, requiring further research to better understand the mechanism of this photosensitizer and its effects on the organism. Thus, this project aims to synthesize and investigate the role of TARF as a photosensitizer when encapsulated in a synthetic vesicle, as well as conduct tests to elucidate the interaction of this compound with the cell membrane, contributing to the understanding and development of targeted therapies in PDT. (AU)