A self-assembled nanostructured material with photosensitising properties

作者:Comas Barcelo Julia; Rodriguez Amigo Beatriz; Abbruzzetti Stefania; del Rey Puech Paula; Agut Montserrat; Nonell Santi*; Viappiani Cristiano
来源:RSC Advances, 2013, 3(39): 17874-17879.
DOI:10.1039/c3ra42609b

摘要

Using a combination of molecular modelling and spectroscopic experiments, the naturally-occurring pharmacologically active hypericin compound is shown to form a stable 1 : 1 complex with apomyoglobin that preserves its fluorescence and singlet oxygen photosensitising properties. The binding equilibrium constant has been determined as K-a = (2.4 +/- 0.5) x 10(5) M-1, equivalent to a dissociation constant K-d = 4.2 +/- 0.8 mu M. The kinetic details of singlet oxygen production have been characterised and indicate that the protein scaffold protects hypericin from oxygen. The complex is active against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and shows lower dark toxicity than free hypericin. In view of its superb biocompatibility, apomyoglobin should be considered as a nanovehicle for hypericin in theranostic applications.

  • 出版日期2013