Unsymmetrical mesoporphyrinic complexes of copper (ii) and zinc (ii). Microwave-assisted synthesis, spectral characterization and cytotoxicity evaluation

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules16075604

New unsymmetrical mesoporphyrinic complexes, namely 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)- 10,15,20-tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)-21,23-Zn(II)-porphine and 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)- 10,15,20-tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)-21,23-Cu(II)- porphine, were synthesized using a microwave

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules16075604

Molecules 2011, 16, 5604-5617; doi:10.3390/molecules16075604
OPEN ACCESS
molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
Article
Unsymmetrical Mesoporphyrinic Complexes of Copper (II) and
Zinc (II). Microwave-Assisted Synthesis, Spectral
Characterization and Cytotoxicity Evaluation
Rica Boscencu
Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia St., 020956
Bucharest, Romania; E-Mail: rboscencu@yahoo.com; Tel.: +4021-3111152; Fax: +4021-3111152
Received: 16 May 2011; in revised form: 27 June 2011 / Accepted: 29 June 2011 /
Published: 30 June 2011
Abstract: New unsymmetrical mesoporphyrinic complexes, namely 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-
10,15,20–tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)–21,23-Zn(II)-porphine and 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-
10,15,20–tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)–21,23-Cu(II)-porphine, were synthesized using a
microwave irradiation method. The structures of the porphyrinic complexes were
confirmed using FT-IR, UV–Vis, EPR and NMR spectral data. The spectral absorption and
emission properties of the porphyrinic complexes were studied in organic solvents of
different polarities and the influence of solvent polarity on the wavelengths of the
absorbance and fluorescence band maxima is described. The cytotoxicity evaluation of the
porphyrinic complexes was performed on human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT29 for
different doses and incubation times. The obtained result indicates a lack of or low toxicity
for both compounds, thus recommending them for further testing in light activation
protocols.
Keywords: unsymmetrical mesoporphyrinic complexes; microwave irradiation;
solvatochromy; cytotoxicity; HT29 cell line
1. Introduction
Metalloporphyrins have attracted attention for many decades because of their importance in the
field of biomedicine, especially in diagnosis and treatment of cancer [1-6] as well as in photodynamic
antimicrobial therapy [7-10].

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Photodynamic therapy as a selective treatment method that involves the administration of a
pharmaceutical formulation containing a tetrapyrrolic photosensitizer, its selective localization at the
cellular level, followed by generation by irradiation with light in the red region of the visible spectrum
of cytotoxic species such as singlet oxygen (1O2) that destroys the sick cells [11-15]. The development
of new candidates for potential application as sensitizers in photodynamic therapy requires of them a
high purity and simple production under laboratory conditions, a good localization at cellular and
subcellular level, great selectivity for the malignant tissue, photoactivity at wavelengths higher than
600 nm, lack of toxicity in the absence of the exciting light, rapid elimination from the body after the
treatment is performed and nontoxic metabolites [16-21].
Porphyrins and metalloporphyrins have also been investigated for use as fluorescent markers in
cancer diagnosis because have appropriate fluorescence characteristics such as convenient emissions in
the phototherapeutic window (~600 to 1,100 nm), high singlet oxygen quantum yield, large Stokes
shifts, and reduced photolability [1,3,4]. For diagnostic and photodynamic therapeutic applications the
biomedical efficiency of the porphyrinic structures is determined by its subcellular localization, which
depends on the structural and physicochemical characteristics of the photosensitizer [22]. Therefore,
depending on the nature of the peripheric substituents and the metallic ion, photosensitizers can be
localized within the mitochondria, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and plasma
membranes [23]. Thus, by modifying the charge density and its distribution at the periphery of the
tetrapyrrolic macrocycle it is possible to control the route of these compounds to the target cells
[24,25]. The purity of these compounds is also very important because the presence of trace amounts
of impurities can introduce significant errors in the photodynamic activity.
This paper reports the microwave-assisted synthesis of some new unsymmetrical porphyrinic
complexes, namely 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20–tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)–21,23-Zn(II)-porphine
(denoted as Zn(II)TCMPOHp - Figure 1) and 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20–tris-(4-carboxy-
methylphenyl)–21,23-Cu(II)-porphine (denoted as Cu(II)TCMPOHp - Figure 1), their spectral
properties and cytotoxicity evaluation with a view to assessing their possible use in the photodiagnosis
and photodynamic therapy of cancer.
Figure 1. General structures of 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20–tris-(4-carboxymethyl-
phenyl)–21, 23 M(II) porphines.
5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20–tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)–21,23-Zn(II)-porphine, (Zn(II)TCMPOHp),
5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20–tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)–21,23-Cu(II)-porphine, (Cu(II)TCMPOHp)

Molecules 2011, 16
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2. Results and Discussion
Microwave assisted synthesis has attracted considerable attention over the last few years and has
been applied successfully in the preparation of tetrapyrrolic complexes. The main advantages of
synthesis via microwave irradiation are significant reductions in reaction times and side reactions,
increased yields, ease of purification and minimization of the amount of solvent used [26-31]. For thse
these reasons in this paper the synthesis of the porphyrinic complexes was carried out using
microwave irradiation assisted synthesis. The synthetic reactions have been successfully repeated
several times with identical results and the porphyrinic complexes thus formed were then characterized
by elemental analysis, IR, UV–Vis, NMR, EPR spectrometry and evaluated in terms of cytotoxicity
using HT29 (human colon adenocarcinoma) cell line for different doses and incubation times.
2.1. Infrared Spectra
The most relevant results extracted from the IR spectra of the synthesized unsymmetrical
porphyrinic complexes are presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Characteristic IR vibrations of the unsymmetrical porphyrinic complexes.
Characteristic
vibration
νO-H
Wavenumber of the IR band (cm−1)
Zn(II)TCMPOHp Cu(II)TCMPOHp
3490 m 3489 m
νC-H
νC-H from -O-CH3
νC=O
νC-N
νC=N
νC-H pyrrole
νC-O
δC-H
2919 m
2850 m
1716 m
1595 s
1451 m
1390 m
1158 m
1029 m
859 w
2920 m
2850 m
1718 m
1596 s
1453 m
1384 w
1157 m
1032 w
857 w
γC-C
γC-N pyrrole
790 m
789 m
The intensities of the signals are described as weak (w), medium (m), strong (s) and very strong (v.s.).
The IR spectra of the porphyrinic ligand [32] shows a medium band at ~3,310 cm−1 assigned to the
N-H stretching vibration of the porphyrinic core, which not found in the spectrum of the
mesoporphyrinic complexes. This observation supports the coordination of both nitrogen atoms of the
porphyrinic core to the metal center.
The IR spectrum of the synthesized copper and zinc complexes includes typical vibration modes of
both porphyrin macrocycle and phenyl substituents. Thus, the medium band at ~2,919 cm−1 is
attributed to the C–H stretching of the phenyl groups. The bands at 3,490 cm−1 are assigned to the O-H
stretching vibration of the –OH functional group in the Zn(II)TCMPOHP and Cu(II)TCMPOHP. The
bands of the complexes in the range of 1,716–1,718 cm−1 are assigned to C=O stretching vibrations. In
addition, in the IR spectra of the unsymmetric porphyrinic complexes the medium absorption band at
about 1,158 cm−1 can be attributed to the C-O groups. The IR spectrum of the porphyrinic complexes

Molecules 2011, 16
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indicates the presence of the -O-CH3 group at 2,850 cm−1. A band attributed to νC=N was present at
1,451–1,453 cm−1. In addition, the band at about 1,595 cm−1 can be assigned to C-N stretching
vibrations and the band at ~1,390 cm−1 includes the C–H stretching of the pyrrole ring.
2.2. Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra
The absorption spectra of Zn(II)TCMPOHp and Cu(II)TCMPOHp were studied in solvents with
different polarities (methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide,
dichloromethane) for solutions containing 2.5 × 10−6 M of the porphyrinic complex. The obtained
results are presented in Figures 2 and 3 and Table 2.
Figure 2. Absorption spectra of 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20–tris-(4-carboxymethyl-
phenyl) – 21, 23 Zn(II) porphine in different solvents (c = 2.5 × 10−6 M, a-Soret band;
b-Q bands).
a
b

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Figure 3. Absorption spectra of 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20–tris-(4-carboxymethyl-
phenyl)– 21, 23 Cu(II) porphine in different solvents (c = 2.5 × 10−6 M, a-Soret band;
b-Q bands).
a
b
Table 2. Maximum wavelength and molar absorptivity of the Zn(II)TCMPOHp and
Cu(II)TCMPOHp in different solvents (c = 2.5 × 10−6 M).
λ
(nm) [lgε (L mol−1 cm−1)]
max
Solvent
Soret band
B(0,0)
Q bands
Qy(0,0)
Qx(1,0)
5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10, 15, 20–tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)–21,23-Zn(II) porphine
MeOH
EtOH
iso-PrOH
CH2Cl2
DMF
424.5 [5.732]
426.0 [5.723]
426.7 [5.693]
421.9 [5.659]
428.9 [5.713]
431.5 [4.954]
557.7 [4.342]
558.6 [4.310]
558.6 [4.283]
549.1 [4.282]
560.7 [4.301]
562.8 [4.246]
598.8 [4.049]
599.7 [3.964]
600.0 [4.033]
588.6 [3.602]
601.8 [4.033]
603.6 [4.028]
DMSO

Molecules 2011, 16
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Table 2. Cont.
5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10, 15, 20–tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)–21,23-Cu(II) porphine
MeOH
EtOH
iso-PrOH
CH2Cl2
DMF
414.2 [5.532]
414.5 [5.571]
414.8 [5.540]
417.1 [5.649]
418.8 [5.555]
422.9 [5.507]
538.6 [4.260]
538.9 [4.283]
538.9 [4.259]
540.1 [4.356]
541.3 [4.298]
545.2 [4.203]
-
-
-
-
578.1(sh)
587.4 [3.477]
DMSO
sh – shoulder; MeOH = methanol, EtOH = ethanol, iso-PrOH = isopropyl alcohol,
DMF = dimethylformamide, CH2Cl2= dichloromethane, DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide.
The obtained molecular electronic spectra of the copper and zinc synthesized complexes are typical
of metalloporphyrins [33-37]. These consist of the Soret band, as a result of the a1u (π) → eg (π∗)
transition and two Q bands bands corresponding to the a2u (π) → eg (π∗) transition.
Thus, the UV–Vis spectra of the Zn(II)TCMPOHp complex exhibited one Soret band in the spectral
range of 421–432 nm accompanied by two Q bands, in the 549–563 nm and 588–604 nm spectral
range, respectively. The absorption spectra of Cu(II)TCMPOHp display a Soret band in the 414–423 nm
wavelength region and either one or two Q bands between 538–590 nm, depending on solvent polarity.
The main differences observed in the absorption spectra of the two porphyrinic complexes are
determined by the nature of the metallic center and solvent polarity. Thus, in the absorption spectra of
metalloporphyrinic complexes in various solvents, a blue shift of the spectral bands was observed with
increasing solvent polarity [38]. These spectral changes can be ascribed to the formation of proton
bridges between the polar solvent molecules and the porphyrinic substitutents due to the polarity-
induced and proton properties of the alcohol. Also, from the absorption spectra of copper porphyrin
can be observed that the second Q band has much smaller intensity or disappeared with increasing
solvent polarity.
Compared with Zn(II)TCMPOHp, the spectral bands of the Cu(II)TCMPOHp shows a blue shift
around 10–12 nm for the Soret band and about 20 nm for Q bands. In agreement with Gouterman’s
theory [39], these spectral differences can be explained by stronger conjugation effects for the copper
4pz orbital with the π electrons of the tetrapyrrolic ring, effects that cause a decrease the energy of the
a1u (π) and a2u (π) orbitals relative to the eg (π∗) orbitals with increased energy available for electron
transitions and the blue shift of the spectral bands.
Of the synthesized metalloporphyrins, fluorescence signals were only detected for Zn(II)TCMPOHp
under the experimental conditions used. The emission spectra of 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20–tris-
(4-carboxymethylphenyl)–21,23-Zn(II) porphine in different solvents, at room temperature, were
recorded at λex = 420 nm.
The fluorescence spectral data shows for Zn(II)TCMPOHp two bands located in the 605–660 nm
spectral region (see Table 3) and reveal smaller shifts of the emmision maxima by changing the
solvent polarity.

Molecules 2011, 16
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Table 3. The fluorescence data of Zn(II)TCMPOHp (c = 2.5 × 10−6M, λex = 420 nm).
λ
(nm) [If] (a.u.)
max
Solvent
Qx(0,0)
Qx(0,1)
MeOH
EtOH
iso-PrOH
CH2Cl2
DMF
605.2 [379.3]
606.8 [740.2]
607.0 [776.8]
608.9 [585.5]
609.7 [490.7]
610.9 [380.8]
651.8 [63.2]
651.6 [118.0]
653.1 [126.4]
653.5 [130.7]
654.9 [81.5]
656.0 [49.9]
DMSO
MeOH = methanol, EtOH = ethanol, iso-PrOH = isopropyl alcohol, DMF = dimethylformamide,
CH2Cl2 = dichloromethane, DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide.
2.3. Dark Cytotoxicity Tests
The short-term cytotoxicity evaluation of a metalloporphyrinic compound designed to be used as a
photosensitizer is mandatory for its efficiency validation in antitumor therapy when seeking a new
therapeutic agent [40] and of its use in imagistics [41]. As well, a long incubation period with the
porphyrinic complexes structures provides the answer to the question concerning the possibility of a
delayed cytotoxicity installation in the cells when the phototherapeutic aim is the objective, or on their
permanence in the cellular structures when imagistic detection is sought.
In order establish the dark cytotoxicity profile, the new mesoporphyrinic complexes were evaluated
in vitro using HT29 (human colon adenocarcinoma) cell line for different doses and incubation times.
For this purpose the cellular viability and proliferative capacity were assessed upon each round of cell
incubation with the synthesized metalloporphyrins.
Viability assay at short-time incubation stressed the point that at low loading doses (1–5 µM) there
are no differences between the two porphyrinic complexes behavior. For doses greater than 5 µM, only
Zn(II)TCMPOHp induces an increase in the LDH release by HT29 cells (Figure 3a). The effect of the
metallic ion of the porphyrinic complex on the cell viability is highlighted at 24 h of incubation and for
concentrations higher than 5 µM. In these conditions, only Cu(II)TCMPOHp has a visible influence on
the cell viability (Figure 3b).
Figure 3. The viability of HT29 cells incubated 2h (a) and 24h (b) with Zn(II)TCMPOHp
and Cu(II)TCMPOHp; the LDH release registered as OD at 490 nm.
Cu(II)TCMPOHp
Zn(II)TCMPOHp
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
a
0.97
1.95
3.9
7.81
15.62
31.25
Concentration,
M
μ

Molecules 2011, 16
5611
Figure 3. Cont.
Cu(II)TCMPOHp
Zn(II)TCMPOHp
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
b
0.97
1.95
3.9
7.81
15.62
31.25
Concentration,
M
μ
Proliferative capacity assay performed following two hours incubation suggests slight differences
between the compounds (Figure 4a). The 3.95 µM concentration results in a homogeneous cell
response for both compounds. Cu(II)TCMPOHp inhibits the cellular proliferation only in
concentrations higher than 10 µM. Following 24 hours incubation Zn(II)TCMPOHp maintains its
nontoxic characteristics related to the proliferative function of the cells, while for Cu(II)TCMPOHp
the effect is dose-dependent (Figure 4b).
Figure 4. The proliferation of HT29 cells incubated 2 h (a) and 24 h (b) with
Zn(II)TCMPOHp and Cu(II)TCMPOHp; the MTS reduction reaction registered as OD at
490/620 nm.
Cu(II)TCMPOHp
Zn(II)TCMPOHp
a
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0.97
1.95
3.9
7.81
15.62
31.25
Concentration,
M
μ
Cu(II)TCMPOHp
Zn(II)TCMPOHp
b
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0.97
1.95
3.9
7.81
15.62
31.25
Concentration,
M
μ

Molecules 2011, 16
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3. Experimental
3.1. Materials and Methods
Commercially available chemicals and solvents were used as received from Sigma-Aldrich and
Merck. For the microwave assisted synthesis, a domestic microwave oven was used, with temperature
and power control. The elemental analysis of C, H and N was performed with an automatic Carlo Erba
L-1108 analyzer. IR spectra were recorded with a FT-IR 400D Nicolet Impact spectrophotometer. The
substances under analysis, previously dried for 24 h at 150 °C, were processed as KBr (spectrally pure)
pellets. The spectra were recorded in the 4,000–500 cm−1 spectral range. The molecular absorption
spectra of the mesoporphyrinic complexes were recorded with the use of a Lambda 35 Perkin-Elmer
spectrophotometer in different solvents (MeOH, EtOH, iso-PrOH, DMF, DMSO, CH2Cl2) using a
10 mm path length quartz cell, in single beam mode. Fluorescence spectra were recorded with a Jasco
FP 6500 spectrofluorimeter.
The metalloporphyrin solutions were freshly prepared in the spectrally pure solvents at the
concentration 2.5 × 10−6 M and kept in dark until the measurement to prevent photodegradation. The
NMR spectra of the zinc porphyrinic complex were recorded with a 400 MHz Bruker NMR
spectrometer. EPR spectra of the copper porphyrinic complex were recorded on powders at room
temperature using a ART-6 spectrometer, operating in the X band (9.01 GHz), equipped with a field
modulation unit of 100 KHz.
The preliminary toxicological studies in the presence of the unsymmetrical mesoporphyrinic
complexes consisted in viability and proliferation studies performed on human colon adenocarcinoma
cell line HT29. The HT29 cell line was purchased from the European Collection of Cell Cultures
(ECACC, catalog no. 91072201) and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 100 U/mL
penicillin, 0.1 mg/mL streptomycin, 0.25 μg/mL amphotericin, 2 mM glutamine and 10% fetal bovine
serum. The cells were maintained at 37 °C in a 5% CO2 humid atmosphere for standard cultivation and
during all the toxicological tests.
The porphyrinic complexes solutions were handled under sterile conditions. Ten mM stock
solutions of the compounds to be tested were prepared in DMSO by sonication at 22,000 Hz for 30
seconds. For the toxicological tests the solutions were further diluted in RPMI 1640 culture medium
for the toxicological tests in the range 0.97–31.25 µM.
For the viability and the proliferation test assay, the cells (cell density 5 × 10−4 cells/mL) were
incubated with each of the tested concentrations for 2 and 24 h. A cellular control consisting in
unloaded/untreated HT29 cells was used for every replicate of the tests, corresponding to each
incubation time.
For cellular viability we have used lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release test [42], using CytoTox
96® Non-Radioactive Cytotoxicity Test (Promega). For testing cell proliferation by means of the
tetrazolium salt (MTS) reduction test [43], we have used CellTiter 96® AQeous One Solution Cell
Proliferation Assay kit (Promega). Briefly, at end of each incubation time with the mesoporphyrinic
complexes, the cell supernatants were collected for LDH test whilst the cell sediment was used for
MTS assay. Results were expressed as triplicate’s mean of optical density (OD) ± SD, recorded on a

Molecules 2011, 16
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Jasco V630 spectrophotometer, in a single beam mode, at 490 nm without any reference (for LDH
release in the cell viability test) and at 490 nm with reference at 640 nm (for MTS reduction test).
3.2. Synthesis of 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10, 15, 20–tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)–21, 23-Zn(II)-porphine
(Zn(II)TCMPOHP)
A mixture of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (1.12 g, 0.01 mol), methyl 4-formyl benzoate (4.92 g,
0.03 mol), freshly distilled pyrrole (2.76 mL, 0.04 mol), anhydrous zinc chloride (1.36 g, 0.01 mol)
and 2–3 g of silica gel 60 (200–500 μm, 35–70 mesh) in the presence of 2,6-dimethylpyridine (1 mL)
was irradiated in a Pyrex bottle with a microwave oven set at 175 °C, 450 W for 10 min. Extraction of
samples for monitoring the synthesis by UV–Vis spectroscopy was performed after every 2 min
of irradiation.
The crude product was first dissolved in dichloromethane, then filtered and finally purified on a
chromatography column by repeated elution, using silica gel (100–200 mesh size) as stationary phase
and dichloromethane as eluent. The solution of the zinc porphyrinic complex was concentrated by
simple distillation. The obtained violet crystals were dried at ≈ 100 °C for 12 h. The compound of
interest was obtained with a yield of about 48%. Elemental analysis for C50H34N4O7Zn: calculated C
1
69.2, H 3.92, N 6.45; found C 69.04, H 3.80, N 6.28. H-NMR: δH(400 MHz, CDCl3), ppm: 4.13
(9H, s, O-CH3), 6.5 (1H, s, brs.,OH), 8.00 (2H, d, Hmetha-Ph-OH), 8.2 (2H, d, Hortho-Ph-OH), 8.3 (6H, d,
H metha-Ph-COOCH3), 8.4 (6H, d, H ortho-Ph-COOCH3), 8.9 (6H, d, Hβpyrr2), 9.0 (2H, d, Hβpyrr3).
1
The comparative study of the H-NMR data of the unsymmetrical mesoporphyrinic ligand and its
zinc complex reveals the absence of the signal at −2.78 (2H, s, N-H) [32], indicating the involvement
of both nitrogen atoms of porphyrinic ring in the coordination after deprotonation. Other signals in the
NMR spectrum of the complex are similar to those of the ligand.
3.3. Synthesis of 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10, 15, 20–tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)–21, 23-Cu(II)-porphine
(Cu(II)TCMPOHP)
A mixture of anhydrous CuCl2 (1.34 g, 0.01 mol), methyl 4-formyl benzoate (4.92 g, 0.03 mol), 4-
hydroxybenzaldehyde (1.12 g, 0.01 mol), freshly distilled pyrrole (2.76 mL, 0.04 moli), 2–3 g of silica
gel 60 (200–500 μm, 35–70 mesh) and 2,6-dimethylpyridine (1 mL) was irradiated in a microwave
oven at 180 °C, 475 W, for 8 min. The extent of the complexation reaction was monitored by UV–Vis
spectroscopy and for this purpose extraction of samples was performed after every 2 min of irradiation.
The product was dissolved in dichloromethane, filtered and then purified on a chromatography
column. The solid product was chromatographed on silica gel (100–200 mesh size) with
dichloromethane as eluent. The solution of the copper porphyrinic complex was concentrated by
simple distillation. The obtained dark red crystals were dried at ≈ 100 °C for 12 h.
The copper unsymmetrical porphyrinic complexes were obtained with a yield of about 52%.
Elemental analysis for C50H34N4O7Cu: calculated C 69.32, H 3.93, N 6.47; found C 69.19, H 3.82, N
6.36. The EPR parameters are: g||=2.172, g⊥=2.050, A||= 202G, A⊥=30 G. These values are in good
agreement with literature data and confirm a square planar geometrical arrangement of nitrogen atoms
around the copper ion [44,45]. Also, the g|| value (g|| < 2.3) indicates a covalent character of the Cu-N
bonds in the copper-porphyrinic complex [46].

Molecules 2011, 16
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4. Conclusions
The paper describes the microwave irradiation assisted synthesis, spectral properties and
preliminary cytotoxicity investigation of some new unsymmetrical porphyrinic complexes, namely 5-
(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20–tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)–21,23-Zn(II)-porphine and 5-(4-hydroxy-
phenyl)-10, 15, 20–tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)–21,23-Cu(II)-porphine. These complexes were
synthesized for use as active substances in the photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy of cancer.
The syntheses of the copper and zinc porphyrinic complexes were confirmed by FT-IR, UV–Vis,
EPR and NMR analysis. The influence of environment polarity on the wavelengths of the absorbance
and fluorescence band maxima is also described. The spectral changes that occur by increasing
environmental polarity can be ascribed to the physical interaction between the porphyrinic substituents
and the solvent molecules.
Both tetrapyrrolic complexes were evaluated in terms of cytotoxicity using HT29 (human colon
adenocarcinoma) cell line for different doses and incubation times. The results showed no significant
toxicity on the investigated cell line and suggest that these novel complexes are promising active
substances for the photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy use.
Acknowledgements
The research was supported by CNMP project No. 41-047/2007, granted from the Romanian
Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sport. The author thanks Carolina Constantin from
“Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania, for experimental assistance in
preliminary cytotoxicity investigation of the newly synthesized porphyrinic complexes.
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Sample Availability: Samples of the compounds are available from the authors.
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