CHED 1185 |
| The field of photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers much promise for the eradication of yeast, viruses and tumors. Successful PDT requires selective uptake of these therapeutic agents. Gadolinium complexes show selective accumulation in tumor cells and are used as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. Moreover, porphyrin-like gadolinium complexes, such as Motexafin gadolinium, have found application as PDT agents. Reports indicate that, unlike regular gadolinium porphyrins, the “expanded-porphyrin” texaphyrin ligands stabilize the gadolinium ion against dissociation during clinical investigations. Our group has been investigating how the structure of porphyrins and metalloporphyrins impacts the photodynamic therapy of tumors and HIV-1. We are particularly interested in combining the accumulation selectivity of gadolinium porphyrins in tumors with potential PDT properties. To this end, we have synthesized a saddle-shaped, cationic porphyrin that complexes the Gd(III) ion. Our porphyrin of choice was an octabrominated H2TMPyP4+. This porphyrin was synthesized and several of its spectroscopic properties investigated including ligand binding and pH response. Once synthesized, the kinetics of the gadolinium ion insertion was observed. These findings in conjunction with spectroscopic evidence of synthesis will be presented |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Inorganic Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |