title: Amphiphilic peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts in liposomal assemblies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peroxynitrite (ONOO-), a toxic biological oxidant, has been implicated in many pathophysiological conditions. The water-soluble porphyrins 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methyl-4'-pyridyl)porphinato iron(III) (FeTMPyP) and manganese(III) (MnTMPyP) have recently emerged as potential drugs for ONOO- detoxification, and FeTMPyP has demonstrated activity in models of ONOO- related disease states. We set out to develop amphiphilic analogs of FeTMPyP and MnTMPyP suitable for liposomal delivery in sterically stabilized liposomes (SLs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three amphiphilic iron porphyrins (termed 1a-c.) and three manganese porphyrins (termed 2a-c.) bound to liposomes and catalyzed the decomposition of ONOO-. The polyethylene-glycol-linked metalloporphyrins 1b. and 2b. proved the most effective of these catalysts, rapidly decomposing ONOO- with second-order rate constants (kcat) of 2.9 x 10(5) M-1 s-1 and 5.0 x 10(5) M-1 s-1, respectively, in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes. Catalysts 1b. and 2b. also bound to SLs, and these metalloporphyrin-SL constructs efficiently catalyzed ONOO- decomposition (kcat approximately 2 x 10(5) M-1 s-1). The analogous metalloporphyrins 1a. and 2a., which are not separated from the vesicle membrane surface by polyethylene glycol linkers, were significantly less effective (kcat approximately 3.5 x 10(4) M-1 s-1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For these amphiphilic analogs of FeTMPyP and MnTMPyP, the polarity of the environment of the metalloporphyrin headgroup is intimately related to the efficiency of the catalyst; a polar aqueous environment is essential for effective catalysis of ONOO- decomposition. Thus, catalysts 1b. and 2b. react rapidly with ONOO- and are potential therapeutic agents that, unlike their water-soluble TMPyP analogs, could be administered as liposomal formulations in SLs. These SL-bound amphiphilic metalloporphyrins may prove to be highly effective in the exploration and treatment of ONOO- related disease states.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Groves
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D015195:Drug Design; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008345:Manganese / Q000737:chemistry; D008665:Metalloporphyrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D008081:Liposomes; D008665:Metalloporphyrins; D009566:Nitrates; D016877:Oxidants; D011166:Porphyrins; C092399:meso-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridiniumyl)porphyrin; C039642:peroxynitric acid; D008345:Manganese; C050950:tetrakis(N-methyl-4-pyridiniumyl)porphine manganese(III) complex