Porphyrins are an important class of naturally occurring macrocyclic compounds found in biological systems that play a very significant role in the metabolism of living organisms. Some of the best examples are the iron-containing porphyrins found as heme and the magnesium-containing reduced porphyrin found in chlorophyll. Without porphyrins, aerobic life on planet earth would be impossible and therefore the knowledge of these systems and their excited states are essential in understanding a wide variety of biological processes. In this work, we synthesized the water-soluble free-base porphyrin TAPPI4 (Tetra-p-trimethyl-ammonium-phenyl-porphyrin-tetraiodide) and its metallo derivatives ZnTAPPI4(Tetra-(p-trimethyl-ammonium-phenyl) zinc (II)-porphyrin- tetraiodide) and CuTAPPI4(Tetra-(p-trimethyl-ammonium-phenyl) copper (II)-porphyrin- tetraiodide). These compounds are tested in-vitro on tetrahymena thermophila, amotile, phagocytic, unicellular eukaryote and on human skin carcinoma cells. Photolysis showed 90 % tetrahymena thermophila cell death within 24h in ZnTAPPI4 solution. Next, photolysis is to be extended to human skin carcinoma cells in-vitro. This work includes various analytical techniques UV-Vis absorption, Emission Spectroscopy, GC-MS, LC-MS, NMR and element analysis for the characterization of reactions products and intermediates.

Porphyrins: Gift of nature to eradicate cancer? Phototoxic effect on Tetrahymena thermophila and human skin carcinoma

2019 Fall National Meeting

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