Hyperflav — perspective photosensitizer for PDT: cell studies

Present studies investigated the effectiveness in vitro of Hyperflav application as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental Oncology
Date:2010
Main Authors: Yermak, P.V., Gamaleia, N.F., Shalamay, A.S., Saienko, T.V., Kholin, V.V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Інститут експериментальної патології, онкології і радіобіології ім. Р.Є. Кавецького НАН України 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/32301
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Journal Title:Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Cite this:Hyperflav — perspective photosensitizer for PDT: cell studies / P.V. Yermak, N.F. Gamaleia, A.S. Shalamay, T.V. Saienko, V.V. Kholin // Experimental Oncology. — 2010. — Т. 32, № 4. — С. 233–236. — Біліогр.: 24 назв. — англ.

Institution

Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
_version_ 1859651020799344640
author Yermak, P.V.
Gamaleia, N.F.
Shalamay, A.S.
Saienko, T.V.
Kholin, V.V.
author_facet Yermak, P.V.
Gamaleia, N.F.
Shalamay, A.S.
Saienko, T.V.
Kholin, V.V.
citation_txt Hyperflav — perspective photosensitizer for PDT: cell studies / P.V. Yermak, N.F. Gamaleia, A.S. Shalamay, T.V. Saienko, V.V. Kholin // Experimental Oncology. — 2010. — Т. 32, № 4. — С. 233–236. — Біліогр.: 24 назв. — англ.
collection DSpace DC
container_title Experimental Oncology
description Present studies investigated the effectiveness in vitro of Hyperflav application as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy.
first_indexed 2025-12-07T13:34:07Z
format Article
fulltext Experimental Oncology 32, 233–236, 2010 (December) 233 Antitumor photodynamic therapy (PDT) comprises systemic administration of a photosensitizer and subsequent visible light delivery to the tumor lesion. Sufficient oxygenation of targeted tissue enables photochemical reactions with generation of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals leading to oxida- tive damage and destruction of sensitized cells [1]. Promising clinical results obtained with photodynamic therapy stimulate searching of novel photosensitiz- ers with better chemophysical properties. One of such promising substances is hypericin, a natural product which was found together with other naph- thodianthrone derivatives such as pseudohypericin, protohypericin, protopseudohypericin, in a number of plants of the genus Hypericum, H.perforatum and H.maculatum for instance [2]. Nowadays drugs based on Hypericum extract is widely used for the treatment of mild and moderate depression [3], although there is some evidence that indicates that not hypericin but hyperforin is respon- sible for the antidepressant activity. Also because of antiviral activity of hypericin [4] its possible application as photodependent blood sterilizer was investigated [5]. Hypericin is under investigation as photoinhibitor of the progression of proliferative vitreoretinopathy in ophthalmology [6]. Due to comparatively high singlet oxygen and su- peroxide anions generation rate, triplet quantum yield, potent light-dependent antineoplastic and antiviral activities hypericin is under investigation as a photosen- sitizer for PDT treatment of superficial bladder tumor [7], recurrent mesothelioma, basal and squamous cell carcinoma [8] and for inhibition of the growth of malig- nant glioma [9, 10], pituitary adenoma, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Moreover, hypericin is successfully applied as a diagnostic tool for the fluorescent detection of flat neoplastic lesions in bladder [8, 11, 12]. Hypericin is soluble in polar solvents such as ethanol, methanol, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, cy- clohexane, acetone, dimethylsulfoxide and insoluble in nonpolar solvents [13]. At physiological pH hypericin forms organic and inorganic monobasic salts in organic solvents. Dissolved in organic solvents sodium hyperici- nate exhibits bright red fluorescence (absorption λmax = 592 nm, emission λmax = 594 nm in ethanolic solutions) [14, 15]. Unfortunately hypericin is insoluble in water under physiological conditions and becomes barely soluble in pure water if pH rises above 8 [13]. But hyperi- cin can be solubilized in biological media, if formation of complexes with biomacromolecules is possible [14]. Nanoparticles being from several dozens to hundreds nanometers in size and from about one hundred to ten thousand times smaller than human cells, possess unique abilities in interaction with bio- molecules, what may be used to improve anticancer drugs and diagnostic agents. Among the most studied nanoparticles are colloid gold, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, silicon and paramagnetic nanoparticles HYPERFLAV — PERSPECTIVE PHOTOSENSITIZER FOR PDT: CELL STUDIES P.V. Yermak1, N.F. Gamaleia1,*, A.S. Shalamay2, T.V. Saienko2, V.V. Kholin3 1R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology of NAS of Ukraine, Vasylkivska str. 45, Kiev 03022, Ukraine 2SIC “Borshchahivskiy Chemical-Pharmaceutical Plant” CJSC, Mira str. 17, Kiev 03680, Ukraine 3SME “Photonika Plus”, Odesska str. 8, Cherkassy 18023, Ukraine Background: Application of hypericin (an alkaloid from Hypericum perforatum plants) as photodynamic agent may become the next successful step in photodynamic therapy of malignant tumors. Hyperflav — is a purified Hypericum extract designed for the purpose of photodynamic diagnosis. Aim: Present studies investigated the effectiveness in vitro of Hyperflav application as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy. Methods: Hyperflav photodynamic activity was assessed in phototoxic cell tests on Jurkat, MT-4 and Namalwa leukemic cell lines. Spectroscopic measurements of Hyperflav solutions were performed. Results: Hyperflav aqueous solubility was maintained in presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone with the most pronounced photodynamic activity at 1:5 (w/w) Hyperflav-PVP ratio. Hyperflav fluorescence spectrum in ethanol exhibits two main peaks around 597 and 647 nm, in accordance with the spectrum of pure hypericin. Fluorescence spectrum of aqueous solution exhibits peaks at 604 and 655 nm and indicates decreasing in fluorescence intensity. Hyperflav at drug dose range of 5 –25 μg/ml and light dose 15 J/cm2 showed a dose-dependent cytotoxicity on tested cell cultures, while dark cytotoxicity was not observed. Light irradiation of cell samples preincubated with 15 μg/ml Hyperflav resulted in 69.9, 76.0 and 78.3% cell death of Jurkat, MT-4 and Namalwa cultures, re- spectively. Combined preparation of Hyperflav with gold nanoparticles showed low photocytotoxicity (24.2%) in comparison with Hyperflav alone (99.6%) on Namalwa cells. Conclusion: Hyperflav being solubilized in nontoxic aqueous media exhibits in vitro photodynamic activity at doses that do not have dark toxicity, and therefore it meets requirements as a perspective photosensitizer. Further studies, particularly in vivo, are warranted to fully evaluate photodynamic potential of Hyperflav. Key Words: photodynamic therapy (PDT), Hypericum extract, hypericin, gold nanoparticles, antitumor effect. Received: October 25, 2010. *Correspondence: Fax: +380442581656; E-mail: gamaleia@onconet.kiev.ua Abbreviations used: PDT — photodynamic therapy; PVP — polyvi- nylpyrrolidone. Exp Oncol 2010 32, 4, 233–236 ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS 234 Experimental Oncology 32, 233–236, 2010 (December) [16, 17]. Main fields of gold nanoparticles application in biomedicine are drug delivery, photothermal and photodynamic therapy, diagnostics. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cell lines. In our studies we used MT-4 and Jurkat T-cell leukemic lines and B-cell Burkitt lymphoma cell line Namalwa obtained from the Bank of Cell Lines from Human and Animal Tissue NAS of Ukraine. Cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium (FarmBiotek, Ukraine) supplemented with 10% fetal cow serum (Sigma, Germany) at 37 °C in presence of 5% CO2. Cells were reseeded three times a week. Hyperflav preparations. Hyperflav was provided by SIC “Borshchahivskiy Chemical-Pharmaceutical Plant”. Hyperflav dried powder was dissolved in 0.9% sodium chloride with addition of various concentra- tions (0.5; 1.25; 2.5; 5 and 10%) of polyvinylpyrrol- idone and then diluted with sodium chloride to final concentration of 500 μg/ml. Hyperflav solutions were prepared ex tempore for every experiment. Nanocomposite Hyperflav-colloid gold was pre- pared in Scientific Research Institute of Nanotech- nological Industry by conjugation of commercial of commercial Hyperflav with gold nanoparticles. Dried substance was dissolved in 0.9% sodium chloride with 2.5% polyvinylpyrrolidone and further diluted with so- dium chloride to obtain the concentration of 500 μg/ml. K-30 polyvinylpyrrolidone (BASF, China) with ap- proximate molecular weight of 40 kDa was used to prepare Hyperflav solutions. Fluorescence measurements. Fluorescence emission spectra of Hyperflav solutions were recorded with ND-3300 cuvetteless spectrofluorometr (Nano- drop Technologies, USA) connected to PC. Measure- ments were conducted in 1 mm fluid column formed be- tween surfaces of pedestal and receiving optical fiber. Radiation sources. As the light source for irradia- tion of cell samples we used an experimental device (Photonika Plus, Ukraine) based on incandescent lamp (Philips, USA) equipped with appropriate broadband filter. The device emitted light in spectral range of 560–700 nm. Light beam was delivered to test tubes with cells by a fiber-optical probe. Photodynamic procedure. Each experimental sample contained 2 ml of 2 x 106 cells/ml suspension. Cell samples were preincubated in Hanks solution with addition of appropriate Hyperflav preparations in sodium cloride for 1 hour and then washed once to re- move non-absorbed photosensitizer. After subsequent resuspending in Hanks solution, samples were irradi- ated with a power density of 150 mW/cm2 and a dose of 15 J/cm2. Irradiation dose was controlled with the help of energy and power meter (3A-p thermal head, Ophir Optronics, USA). Irradiated cells were incubated in RPMI-1640 media for 24 h, and then a phototoxic effect was assessed by trypan blue dye exclusion test. Statistical analysis. Per cent values of dead cells was determined by counting of 200 cells five times for each sample, and were presented as a mean ± stan- dard deviation. One-way ANOVA analysis was used to determine significance of difference between means. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The first part of the study was devoted to elabora- tion of the preparation dissolved forms which would be suitable for biological investigations. Several reports on photodynamic properties of Hypericum extracts have been published earlier [18, 19]. Hyperflav, that is actually a dried St. Johns wort (H. perforatum) extract, proposed as a photodiagnostic agent, contains about 2% of hypericin and pseudohypericin. Hyperflav like other similar extracts and pure hypericin, is insoluble in water, being well soluble in ethanol and other polar solvents. It is known that hypericin in aqueous buffers is present in a form of colloidal high molecular weight aggregates. In such aggregated form hypericin loses its photodynamic activity as well as suffers decrease in fluorescence yield [14]. Due to its lipophilic properties it is possible to prevent aggregation of hypericin by ad- dition of albumin and plasma lipoproteins that adsorb hypericin in aqueous environment [14]. Some macro- molecular substances such as polyethyleneglycol [14], N-methylpyrrolidone [20] and polyvinylpyrrolidone [21, 22] can be used instead of serum proteins to solubilize hypericin in aqueous media. Thus, to obtain aqueous solutions of Hyperflav for cell tests, we used polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). A cor- relation exists between the amount of nonaggregated hypericin and its fluorescence yield in a solution [14]. Fluorescence emission profile of Hyperflav solubilied in water with PVP is almost similar (except its much lower intensity) to that in ethanol and specifies hypericin as the major photoactive constituent (Fig. 1). Results of fluorescent spectroscopy measurements show signifi- cant decrease in fluorescence intensity of water-PVP solubilized Hyperflav compared to ethanolic solution. Nevertheless they show presence of some nonaggre- gated, thus bioavailable and photodynamically active hypericin in solution. 0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 49 9 51 9 53 9 55 9 57 9 59 9 61 9 63 9 65 9 67 9 69 9 Fl uo re sc en ce in te ns ity , R FU Ethanol Water+PVP Fig. 1. Fluorescence emission spectra of ethanolic and polyvi- nylpyrrolidone-aqueous Hyperflav solutions. Concentration of Hyperflav 500 μg/ml. Peak fluorescence emission at 597 nm in ethanolic solution, and 604 nm in water-PVP solution In the next stage of the study cytotoxicity cell tests were performed to determine influence of Hyperflav to PVP ratio on photodynamic activity of solutions (Fig. 2). Samples containing Hyperflav in concentration of 10 μg/ ml with 20, 50, 100, 200 or 400 μg/ml of PVP in 0.9% Experimental Oncology 32, 233–236, 2010 (December) 235 sodium chloride were tested. Maximal activity under light irradiation was shown by the solution with 1:5 ratio (10 μg/ml Hyperflav and 50 μg/ml PVP). No statistically significant cytotoxicity in dark conditions was observed. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Intact cells 1:2 1:5 1:10 1:20 1:40 Ce ll de at h, % Dark conditions PDT * * * * * Fig. 2. Photodynamic treatment of Jurkat cells. Hyperflav- polyvinylpyrrolidone (w/w) ratios 1:2, 1:5, 1:10, 1:20 and 1:40. *Significantly different from control at p < 0.05 Next, using the most effective Hyperflav: polyvi- nylpyrrolidone ratio 1:5, we assessed photodynamic activity of Hyperflav on three different cell cultures. Under light irradiation Hyperflav showed dose de- pendent cytotoxicity. Data obtained in tests with Jurkat, Namalwa and MT-4 cell lines are presented in Fig. 3–5. As it follows from the figures, 69.9, 78.3 and 76% cell death was observed in respective culture samples preincubated with Hyperflav in concentration of 15 μg/ml, and the preparation in concentration of 20–25 μg/ml was able to induce near total death of tested cells. No significant cytotoxicity was observed in dark conditions. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Intact cells Irradiated cells 5 μg/ml 10 μg/ml 15 μg/ml 20 μg/ml Ce ll de at h, % Dark conditions PDT * * * * Fig. 3. Photodynamic treatment of Jurkat cells with Hyperflav in different concentrations. *Significantly different from control at p < 0.05 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Intact cells Irradiatied cells 5 μg/ml 10 μg/ml15 μg/ml 20 μg/ml25 μg/ml Ce ll de at h, % * * * * * Fig. 4. Photodynamic treatment of MT-4 cells with Hyperflav in different concentrations. *Significantly different from control at p < 0.05 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Intact cells 5 μg/ml 10 μg/ml 15 μg/ml 20 μg/ml 25 μg/ml Ce ll de at h, % * * * * * Fig. 5. Photodynamic treatment of Namalwa cells with Hyperflav in different concentrations. *Significantly different from control at p < 0.05 Among different nanotechnology products gold nanoparticles draw a special attention as perspective drug delivery agents for cancer therapy [16, 17, 23]. Similar to the Hyperflav solubility problem, nanopar- ticles can be stabilized in colloidal state by biocompa- tible polymers which are able to inhibit colloid aggrega- tion in physiological conditions [16]. Therefore a conjugated preparation of Hyperflav with nanogold, stabilized by PVP, was obtained and preliminarily tested using Namalwa cell culture. Con- trary to expectations phototoxic tests revealed de- crease in phototoxicity of nanocomposite preparation in comparison with Hyperflav alone (Fig. 6). 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Intact cells 15 μg/ml 20 μg/ml Ce ll de at h, % Hyperflav Hyperflav-nanogold * * * * Fig. 6. Effect of photodynamic treatment with Hyperflav and Hyperflav-nanogold on Namalwa cells. *Significantly different from control at p < 0.05 The preliminary results obtained may be explained by the fact that Hyperflav is polycomponent substance containing not only the prooxidant constituent (hyperi- cin) but antioxidative ones (flavonoids, quercetin) as well [24]. It could interfere with the cell oxidative da- mage by PDT. Also, the influence of gold nanoparticles on bioavailability and distribution of prooxidative and antioxidative components of the preparation in cell culture system is still to be studied. CONCLUSION Hyperflav can be maintained in aqueous solution in presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone. Hyperflav in dose of 15 μg/ml shows photodynamic activity in tests with leukemic cell cultures Jurkat, Namalwa and MT-4, inducing approximately 70% cell death and does not show dark toxicity. Conjugation with gold nanoparticles causes decrease in phototoxic activity of Hyperflav. 236 Experimental Oncology 32, 233–236, 2010 (December) REFERENCES 1. Robertson CA, Hawkins Evans D, Abrahamse H. Pho- todynamic therapy (PDT): a short review on cellular mecha- nisms and cancer research applications for PDT. J Photochem Photobiol B: Biology 2009; 96: 1–8. 2. Schmitt LA, Liu Y, Murphy PA, et al. Reduction in hypericin-induced phototoxicity by Hypericum perforatum extracts and pure compounds. J Photochem Photobiol B: Biology 2006; 85: 118–30. 3. Miller AL. St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum): clinical effects on depression and other conditions. Alternative Med Rev 1998; 3: 18–26. 4. Jacobson JM, Feinman L, Liebes L, et al. Pharmacoki- netics, safety, and antiviral effects of hypericin, a derivative of St. John’s wort plant, in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2001; 45: 517–24. 5. Lavie G, Mazur Y, Lavie D, et al. Hypericin as an inac- tivator of infectious viruses in blood components. Transfusion 1995; 35: 392–400. 6. Machado RAF, Casella AMB, Malaguido MR, et al. Experimental study of vitreoretinal proliferation inhibition by the use of hypericin. Arq Bras Oftalmol 2009; 72: 650–4. 7. Kamuhabwa A, Agostinis P, Ahmed B, et al. Hypericin as a potential phototherapeutic agent in superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2004; 3: 772–80. 8. Besic E, Forny P, Lüscher D, et al. Photodynamic ef- fects of hypericin and Foslipos in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in vitro. Congress Abstracts/Medical Laser Application 2009; 24: 136–7. 9. Miccoli L, Beurdeley-Thomas A, De Pinieux G, et al. Light-induced photoactivation of hypericin affects the energy metabolism of human glioma cells by inhibiting hexokinase bound to mitochondria. Cancer Res 1998; 58: 5777–86. 10. Rück A, Pfaffel-Schubart G, Hauser C, et al. Hypericin as potential PDT drug to treat glioblastoma. Congress Ab- stracts/Medical Laser Application 2009; 24: 136. 11. Jocham D, Stepp H, Waidelich R. Photodynamic diagno- sis in urology: state-of-the-art. Eur Urology 2008; 53: 1138–50. 12. Agostinis P, Vantieghema A, Merlevede W. Hypericin in cancer treatment: more light on the way. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2002; 34: 221–41. 13. Yamazaki T, Ohta N, Yamazaki I, et al. Excited-state properties of hypericin: electronic spectra and fluorescence decay kinetics. J Phys Chem 1993, 97: 7870–75. 14. Huygens A, Kamuhabwa AR, de Witte PAM. Stability of different formulations and ion pairs of hypericin. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2005; 59: 461–68. 15. Chen B, Xu Y, Roskams T, et al. Efficacy of antitumoral photodynamic therapy with hypericin: relationship between biodistribution and photodynamic effects in the RIF-1 mouse tumor model. Int J Cancer 2001; 93: 275–82. 16. Cai W, Gao T, Hong H, et al. Applications of gold nanoparticles in cancer nanotechnology. Nanotech Sci Ap- plications 2008; 1: 17–32. 17. Gamaleia N, Shishko E, Dolinsky G, et al. Photo- dynamic activity of hematoporphyrin conjugates with gold nanoparticles: experiments in vitro. Exp Oncol 2010, 32: 44–7. 18. Skalkos D, Gioti E, Stalikas CD, et al. Photophysi- cal properties of Hypericum perforatum L. extracts — novel photosensitizers for PDT. J Photochem Photobiol B: Biology 2006; 82: 146–51. 19. Stavropoulos NE, Kim A, Nseyo UU, et al. Hypericum per- foratum L. extract — novel photosensitizer against human bladder cancer cells. J Photochem Photobiol B: Biology 2006; 84: 64–9. 20. Saw CL, Olivo M, Soo KC, et al. Spectroscopic characterization and photobleaching kinetics of hypericin- N-methyl pyrrolidone formulations. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2006; 5: 1018–23. 21. Kubin A, Loew HG, Burner U, et al. How to make hypericin water-soluble. Pharmazie 2008; 63: 263–9. 22. Saw CL, Olivo M, Soo KC, et al. Delivery of hypericin for photodynamic applications. Cancer Letters 2006; 241: 23–30. 23. Besic E, Wirth A, Maake C, et al. Uptake and dis- tribution of hypericin doped silica nanoparticles in human cancer cells for future therapy. EPPM-1 Abstr Photodiag and Photodyn Ther 2008; 5: 74. 24. Mirossay A, Onderkova H, Mirossay L, et al. The ef- fect of quercetin on light-induced cytotoxicity of hypericin. Physiol 2001; 50: 635–7. Copyright © Experimental Oncology, 2010
id nasplib_isofts_kiev_ua-123456789-32301
institution Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
issn 1812-9269
language English
last_indexed 2025-12-07T13:34:07Z
publishDate 2010
publisher Інститут експериментальної патології, онкології і радіобіології ім. Р.Є. Кавецького НАН України
record_format dspace
spelling Yermak, P.V.
Gamaleia, N.F.
Shalamay, A.S.
Saienko, T.V.
Kholin, V.V.
2012-04-16T16:37:30Z
2012-04-16T16:37:30Z
2010
Hyperflav — perspective photosensitizer for PDT: cell studies / P.V. Yermak, N.F. Gamaleia, A.S. Shalamay, T.V. Saienko, V.V. Kholin // Experimental Oncology. — 2010. — Т. 32, № 4. — С. 233–236. — Біліогр.: 24 назв. — англ.
1812-9269
https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/32301
Present studies investigated the effectiveness in vitro of Hyperflav application as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy.
en
Інститут експериментальної патології, онкології і радіобіології ім. Р.Є. Кавецького НАН України
Experimental Oncology
Original contributions
Hyperflav — perspective photosensitizer for PDT: cell studies
Article
published earlier
spellingShingle Hyperflav — perspective photosensitizer for PDT: cell studies
Yermak, P.V.
Gamaleia, N.F.
Shalamay, A.S.
Saienko, T.V.
Kholin, V.V.
Original contributions
title Hyperflav — perspective photosensitizer for PDT: cell studies
title_full Hyperflav — perspective photosensitizer for PDT: cell studies
title_fullStr Hyperflav — perspective photosensitizer for PDT: cell studies
title_full_unstemmed Hyperflav — perspective photosensitizer for PDT: cell studies
title_short Hyperflav — perspective photosensitizer for PDT: cell studies
title_sort hyperflav — perspective photosensitizer for pdt: cell studies
topic Original contributions
topic_facet Original contributions
url https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/32301
work_keys_str_mv AT yermakpv hyperflavperspectivephotosensitizerforpdtcellstudies
AT gamaleianf hyperflavperspectivephotosensitizerforpdtcellstudies
AT shalamayas hyperflavperspectivephotosensitizerforpdtcellstudies
AT saienkotv hyperflavperspectivephotosensitizerforpdtcellstudies
AT kholinvv hyperflavperspectivephotosensitizerforpdtcellstudies