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Over the past decade, porphyrin derivatives have emerged as invaluable synthetic building blocks and theranostic kits for the delivery of cellular fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapy. Tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP), its metal complexes, and related derivatives have been investigated for their use as dyes in histology and as components of multimodal imaging probes. The photophysical properties of porphyrin-metal complexes featuring radiometals have been a focus of our attention for the realization of fluorescence imaging probes coupled with radioimaging capabilities and therapeutic potential having "true" theranostic promise. We report hereby on the synthesis, radiochemistry, structural investigations, and preliminary in vitro and in vivo uptake studies on a range of functionalized porphyrin-based derivatives. In pursuit of developing new porphyrin-based probes for multimodality imaging applications, we report new functionalized neutral, polycationic, and polyanionic porphyrins incorporating nitroimidazole and sulfonamide moieties, which were used as targeting groups to improve the notoriously poor pharmacokinetics of porphyrin tags. The resulting functional metalloporphyrin species were stable under serum challenges and the nitroimidazole and sulfonamide derivatives remained fluorescent, allowing in vitro confocal studies and visualization of the lysosomal uptake in a gallium(III) sulfonamide derivative. The molecular structures of selected porphyrin derivatives were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation. We also investigated the nature of the emission/excitation behavior of model functional porphyrins using in silico approaches such as TD DFT in simple solvation models. The conjugation of porphyrins with the [7-13] and [7-14] fragments of bombesin was also achieved, to provide targeting of the gastrin releasing peptide receptor (GRPR). Depending on the metal, probe conjugates of relevance for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) probes have been designed and tested hereby, using TPP and related functional free base porphyrins as the bifunctional chelator synthetic scaffold and 111In[In] or 68Ga[Ga], respectively, as the central metal ions. Interestingly, for simple porphyrin conjugates good radiochemical incorporation was obtained for both radiometals, but the presence of peptides significantly diminished the radio-incorporation yields. Although the gallium-68 radiochemistry of the bombesin conjugates did not show radiochemical incorporation suitable for in vivo studies, likely because the presence of the peptide changed the behavior of the TPP-NH2 synthon taken alone, the optical imaging assays indicated that the conjugated peptide tags do mediate uptake of the porphyrin units into cells.

The conjugation of photosensitisers to proteins or targeting peptides is a well-established approach for enhancing solubility and tissue selectivity for both photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer and light-activated drug delivery. A key innovation in the development of such targeted photosensitisers is the application of biorthogonal ligation techniques (e.g. azide-alkyne “click” chemistries) which allow the efficient attachment of various photosensitiser molecules to multifunctional peptides. Some of our work in this area will be described towards the generation of specific targeted conjugates between porphyrin and chlorin photosensitiser derivatives and tumour-homing or cell-penetrating peptide carriers [1, 2]. Conjugation of hydrophobic photosensitiser molecules to cationic cell-penetrating peptides (e.g. HIV Tat 48-57) can provide derivatives with improved water solubility, amphiphilicity, enhanced uptake and predictable sub-cellular localisation. This is very attractive for the light-triggered delivery of macromolecular therapeutics by photochemical internalisation (PCI), which will be illustrated in the application of these compounds for the delivery of the protein toxin, saporin [3]. Peptide targeting strategies are also of interest for PDT with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) [4]. In ALA-PDT, administered ALA is converted within cells via the heme biosynthetic pathway to a classical photosensitiser- protoporphyrin IX. In this context, some recent chemical and biological data will be presented on the use of peptide targeting to enhance the delivery of multiple ALA units to a specific cell type [5]. [1] Dondi, R., Yaghini, E., Tewari, K. M., Wang, L., Giuntini, F., Loizidou, M., MacRobert, A. J. and Eggleston, I. M., Org. Biomol. Chem. 2016, 14, 11488-11501; [2] Yaghini, E., Dondi, R., Tewari, K. M., Loizidou, M., Eggleston, I. M. and MacRobert, A. J., Sci. Rep. 2017, 7, 6059; [3] Yaghini, E, Dondi, R., Edler, K. J., Loizidou, M., MacRobert, A. J. and Eggleston, I. M., Nanoscale 2018, 10, 20366-20376; [4] Tewari, K. M. and Eggleston, I. M., Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. 2018, 17, 1553-1572; [5] Tewari, K. M., Dondi, R., Yaghini, E., Pourzand, C., MacRobert, A. J. and Eggleston, I. M., Bioorg. Chem. 2021, 109, 104667.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising approach for the targeted treatment of cancer and various other human disorders. An effective, clinically approved approach in PDT involves the administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to generate elevated levels of the natural photosensitiser protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). The development of prodrugs of ALA is of considerable interest as a means to enhance the efficiency and cell selectivity of PpIX accumulation for PDT applications. In this work a novel peptide-targeted dendrimeric prodrug of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) 13 was synthesised which displays nine copies of ALA on a core structure that is linked to a homing peptide for targeted delivery to a specific cancer cell type. The synthesis was accomplished effectively via a flexible, modular solid phase and solution phase route, using a combination of solid phase peptide synthesis and copper-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition chemistry. The prodrug system shows a sustained and enhanced production of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in the MDA-MB-231 cell line that over-expresses the epidernal growth factor receptor (EGFR+) in comparison to equimolar ALA and the corresponding non-targeted ALA dendrimer (nine copies of ALA). This study provides a proof of concept for the development of a new generation of prodrugs for ALA-based photodynamic therapy that can deliver an enhanced ALA payload to specific tissue types.

Endosomal entrapment is a key issue for the intracellular delivery of many nano-sized biotherapeutics to their cytosolic or nuclear targets. Photochemical internalisation (PCI) is a novel light-based solution that can be used to trigger the endosomal escape of a range of bioactive agents into the cytosol leading to improved efficacy in pre-clinical and clinical studies. PCI typically depends upon the endolysosomal colocalisation of the bioactive agent with a suitable photosensitiser that is administered separately. In this study we demonstrate that both these components may be combined for codelivery via a novel multifunctional liposomal nanocarrier, with a corresponding increase in the biological efficacy of the encapsulated agent. As proof of concept, we show here that the cytotoxicity of the 30 kDa protein toxin, saporin, in MC28 fibrosarcoma cells is significantly enhanced when delivered via a cell penetrating peptide (CPP)-modified liposome, with the CPP additionally functionalised with a photosensitiser that is targeted to endolysosomal membranes. This innovation opens the way for the efficient delivery of a range of biotherapeutics by the PCI approach, incorporating a clinically proven liposome delivery platform and using bioorthogonal ligation chemistries to append photosensitisers and peptides of choice.

Amphiphilic cell-penetrating peptide–porphyrin conjugates have been developed for application in light-based therapeutic techniques., Efficient syntheses of cell-penetrating peptide–porphyrin conjugates are described using a variety of bioconjugation chemistries. This provides a flexible means to convert essentially hydrophobic tetrapyrolle photosensitisers into amphiphilic derivatives which are well-suited for use in light-triggered drug delivery by photochemical internalisation (PCI) and targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT).

This manuscript describes a one-pot method for the synthesis of size- and shape-selected silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Tollens' reagent [Ag(NH3)2OH] as the silver source. Sugar triazole ligands facilitate the formation of monodisperse AgNPs in which the size and shape can be controlled according to the reaction conditions. Increasing the size of the ligand reduces size tunability but enhances colloidal stability in high-salt buffers. A key conclusion from this study is that the AgI-binding affinity of these triazole ligands determines their capacity to tune the size of the resultant AgNPs formed. Weaker AgI-binding ligands can be used to form monodisperse, angular AgNPs over a wider range of sizes [(12 ± 3) to (33 ± 7) nm], whereas triazole ligands that exhibit a higher AgI-binding affinity produce monodisperse, spherical AgNPs of a single size [(18 ± 5) nm].

A mild, facile one-step synthetic strategy for the preparation of size- and shape-controlled silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is presented. The high degree of size- and shape-control of these AgNPs is achieved by the use of triazole sugar ligands scaffolded by a central resorcinol ether core. Both the triazoles and the resorcinol ether core mediate the nucleation, growth, and passivation phases of the preparation of AgNP in the presence of the Tollens reagent as the silver source. Kinetic and (1)H NMR titration data is presented describing the nature of the interactions between the Tollens reagent and these ligands.

Two advances in the development of a one-pot method to prepare silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the Tollens' reagent are described. First, a template-directed process of AgNP synthesis using resorcinol triazole ligands bearing two pendent galactose sugars is shown. Second, the conversion of these AgNPs into SERS nanotags is demonstrated using malachite green isothiocyanate as the Raman reporter molecule.

The intestinal epithelium functions to effectively restrict the causal uptake of luminal contents but has been demonstrated to transiently increase paracellular permeability properties to provide an additional entry route for dietary macromolecules. We have examined a method to emulate this endogenous mechanism as a means of enhancing the oral uptake of insulin. Two sets of stable Permeant Inhibitor of Phosphatase (PIP) peptides were rationally designed to stimulate phosphorylation of intracellular epithelial myosin light chain (MLC) and screened using Caco-2 monolayers in vitro. Apical application of PIP peptide 640, designed to disrupt protein–protein interactions between protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and its regulator CPI-17, resulted in a reversible and non-toxic transient reduction in Caco-2 monolayer trans-epithelial electric resistance (TEER) and opening of the paracellular route to 4 kDa fluorescent dextran but not 70 kDa dextran in vitro. Apical application of PIP peptide 250, designed to impede MYPT1-mediated regulation of PP1, also decreased TEER in a reversible and non-toxic manner but transiently opened the paracellular route to both 4 and 70 kDa fluorescent dextrans. Direct injection of PIP peptides 640 or 250 with human insulin into the lumen of rat jejunum caused a decrease in blood glucose levels that was PIP peptide and insulin dose-dependent and correlated with increased pMLC levels. Systemic levels of insulin suggested approximately 3–4% of the dose injected into the intestinal lumen was absorbed, relative to a subcutaneous injection. Measurement of insulin levels in the portal vein showed a time window of absorption that was consistent with systemic concentration-time profiles and approximately 50% first-pass clearance by the liver. Monitoring the uptake of a fluorescent form of insulin suggested its uptake occurred via the paracellular route. Together, these studies add validation to the presence of an endogenous mechanism used by the intestinal epithelium to dynamically regulate its paracellular permeability properties and better define the potential to enhance the oral delivery of biopharmaceuticals via a transient regulation of an endogenous mechanism controlling the intestinal paracellular barrier., Graphical abstract

Two advances in the synthesis of hairpin pyrrole-imidazole polyamides (PAs) are described. First, the application of a convergent synthetic strategy is shown, involving the Boc-based solid phase synthesis of a C-terminal fragment and the solution phase synthesis of the N-terminal fragment. Second a new hybrid resin is developed that allows for the preparation of hairpin PAs lacking a C-terminal β-alanine tail. Both methods are compatible with a range of coupling reagents and provide a facile, modular route to prepare PA libraries in high yield and crude purity.

We report a new method to produce liquid suspensions of nanoparticles by co-deposition with water vapour from the gas-phase in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions. The water is injected from outside the vacuum as a molecular beam onto a substrate maintained at 77 K and forms an ice layer with a UHV vapour pressure. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm that the nanoparticles are soft-landed close to the surface of the growing ice layer. We show that the un-agglomerated size distribution within the liquid is similar to the gas-phase size distribution and demonstrate that the inclusion of surfactants in the injected water prevents agglomeration. The method allows the flexibility and tight size control available with gas-phase production methods to be applied to making nanoparticle suspensions with any desired properties. This is important for practical applications, especially in medicine. We have extended the method to include core–shell nanoparticles, in which there is flexible control over the core size and shell thickness and free choice of the material in either. Here, we report the production of suspensions of Cu, Ag and Au elemental nanoparticles and Fe@Au and Fe@Fe-oxide core–shell nanoparticles with diameters in the range 5–15 nm. We demonstrate the power of the method in practical applications in the case of Fe@Fe-oxide nanoparticles, which have a specific absorption rate of an applied oscillating magnetic field that is significantly higher than available Fe-oxide nanoparticle suspensions and the highest yet reported. These will thus have a very high-performance in the treatment of tumours by magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia.

The discovery of a novel series of CXCR3 antagonists is described. Starting from an HTS positive, iterative optimization gave potent compounds (IC50 15 nM in a chemotaxis assay). The strategy employed to improve the metabolic stability of these derivatives is described.

A facile and highly efficient solid phase synthesis method is reported for the preparation of hairpin DNA-binding polyamides using the cost-effective triphosgene (BTC) activating agent. Difficult polyamide sequences were prepared from N-methylimidazole (Im) and N-methylpyrrole (Py) building blocks with high stepwise yields (>98%) using Boc chemistry. The versatility of the triphosgene coupling approach was also demonstrated for the first time on aryl hydrazine resins to afford biomedically relevant tail-truncated polyamides in excellent isolated yields.