Accumulation and Photocytotoxicity of Hypericin and Analogs in Two- and Three-Dimensional Cultures of Transitional Cell Carcinoma Cells¶

Accumulation and penetration behavior of hypericin in glioma tumor spheroids studied by fluorescence microscopy and confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy

Glioblastoma WHO IV belongs to a group of brain tumors that are still incurable. A promising treatment approach applies photodynamic therapy (PDT) with hypericin as a photosensitizer. To generate a comprehensive understanding of the photosensitizer-tumor interactions, the first part of our study is focused on investigating the distribution and penetration behavior of hypericin in glioma cell spheroids by fluorescence microscopy. In the second part, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) was used to correlate fluorescence lifetime (FLT) changes of hypericin to environmental effects inside the spheroids. In this context, 3D tumor spheroids are an excellent model system since they consider 3D cell-cell interactions and the extracellular matrix is similar to tumors in vivo. Our analytical approach considers hypericin as probe molecule for FLIM and as photosensitizer for PDT at the same time, making it possible to directly draw conclusions of the state and location of the drug in a biological system. The knowledge of both state and location of hypericin makes a fundamental understanding of the impact of hypericin PDT in brain tumors possible. Following different incubation conditions, the hypericin distribution in peripheral and central cryosections of the spheroids were analyzed. Both fluorescence microscopy and FLIM revealed a hypericin gradient towards the spheroid core for short incubation periods or small concentrations. On the other hand, a homogeneous hypericin distribution is observed for long incubation times and high concentrations. Especially, the observed FLT change is crucial for the PDT efficiency, since the triplet yield, and hence the O₂ activation, is directly proportional to the FLT. Based on the FLT increase inside spheroids, an incubation time > 30 min is required to achieve most suitable conditions for an effective PDT.

Chlorophyllin e6‑mediated photodynamic therapy inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells

Patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) frequently relapse following surgery due to incomplete resection and chemoresistance, highlighting the importance of developing novel therapeutic strategies that mechanistically assist in eradicating the residual tumor. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anticancer effect of chlorophyllin e6-mediated photodynamic therapy (e6-PDT) and its potential mechanisms by using monolayer cells or multicellular tumor spheroid models of human bladder cancer cells (T24 and 5637). The results revealed that e6-PDT exhibited significant cytotoxicity in the T24 and 5637 cells of these two models as detected by the Water-Soluble Tetrazolium Salts-1 and CellTiter-Glo Luminescent Cell Viability assays, respectively. Cell migration and invasion capacities decreased markedly following e6-PDT. In addition, the cells following e6-PDT exhibited typical morphological changes of apoptosis as detected by fluorescence microscopy with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining and transmission electron microscopy. A greater number of apoptotic cells were observed post-e6-PDT by flow cytometry. The expression levels of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and B-cell lymphoma 2 protein were decreased, while cleaved PARP was increased, significantly following e6-PDT as determined by western blotting. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was increased, while the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was decreased, significantly in e6-PDT-treated cells. Thus, the novel e6-PDT exhibits prominent photo-cytotoxicity effect and the induction of apoptosis was probably due to the inhibition of SOD activity and the generation of ROS. These results indicate that chlorophyllin e6 is an effective photosensitizer and that e6-PDT may have a therapeutic application for the treatment of bladder cancer.

Photodynamic therapy in 3D cancer models and the utilisation of nanodelivery systems

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is the subject of considerable research in experimental cancer models mainly for the treatment of solid cancerous tumours. Recent studies on the use of nanoparticles as photosensitiser carriers have demonstrated improved PDT efficacy in experimental cancer therapy. Experiments typically employ conventional monolayer cell culture but there is increasing interest in testing PDT using three dimensional (3D) cancer models. 3D cancer models can better mimic in vivo models than 2D cultures by for example enabling cancer cell interactions with a surrounding extracellular matrix which should enable the treatment to be optimised prior to in vivo studies. The aim of this review is to discuss recent research using PDT in different types of 3D cancer models, from spheroids to nano-fibrous scaffolds, using a range of photosensitisers on their own or incorporated in nanoparticles and nanodelivery systems.

Comparative in vitro study of photodynamic activity of hypericin and hypericinates in MCF-7 cells

In this work we present a comparative in vitro study of photodynamic activity between hypericin (HYP) and some hypericinates (hypericin ionic pair with lysine or N-methylglucamine) in human mammary adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7). The toxicity and phototoxicity of hypericin and hypericinates were compared, as well as their cellular uptake and localization and mutagenic, genotoxic and clonogenic capacity. Our results demonstrate that different cationic moieties promote differences in the hypericinate solubility in a biological environment, and can influence the cellular localization and the phototoxicity of the photosensitizer. It was verified that hypericinates have better efficiency to generate singlet oxygen than HYP, and a lower aggregation in biological medium. In vitro assays have shown that HYP and the hypericinates are able to permeate the MCF-7 cell membrane and accumulated in organelles near the nucleus. The difference in location, however, was not determinant to the cell death mechanism, and a higher prevalence of apoptosis for all studied compounds occurred. The photodynamic studies indicated that hypericinates were more effective than HYP and were able to inhibit the formation of cellular colonies, suggesting a possible ability to prevent the recurrence of tumors. It also appears that all compounds have relative safety for mutagenicity and genotoxicity, which opens up a further safe route for application in in vivo studies.

Hypericin encapsulated in solid lipid nanoparticles: phototoxicity and photodynamic efficiency

The hydrophobicity of some photosensitizers can induce aggregation in biological systems, which consequently reduces photodynamic activity. The conjugation of photosensitizers with nanocarrier systems can potentially be used to overcome this problem. The objective of this study was to prepare and characterise hypericin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (Hy-SLN) for use in photodynamic therapy (PDT). SLN were prepared using the ultrasonication technique, and their physicochemical properties were characterised. The mean particle size was found to be 153 nm, with a low polydispersity index of 0.28. One of the major advantages of the SLN formulation is its high entrapment efficiency (EE%). Hy-SLN showed greater than 80% EE and a drug loading capacity of 5.22% (w/w). To determine the photodynamic efficiency of Hy before and after encapsulation in SLN, the rate constants for the photodecomposition of two (1)O2 trapping reagents, DPBF and AU, were determined. These rate constants exhibited an increase of 60% and 50% for each method, respectively, which is most likely due to an increase in the lifetime of the triplet state caused by the increase in solubility. Hy-SLN presented a 30% increase in cell uptake and a correlated improvement of 26% in cytotoxicity. Thus, all these advantages suggest that Hy-loaded SLN has potential for use in PDT.

Toward a 3D cellular model for studying in vitro the outcome of photodynamic treatments: accounting for the effects of tissue complexity

Clinical therapies have traditionally been developed using two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems, which fail to accurately capture tissue complexity. Therefore, three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures are more attractive platforms to integrate multiple cues that arise from the extracellular matrix and cells, closer to an in vivo scenario. Here we report the development of a 3D cellular model for the in vitro assessment of the outcome of oxygen- and drug-dependent therapies, exemplified by photodynamic therapy (PDT). Using a synthetic self-assembling peptide as a cellular scaffold (RAD16-I), we were able to recreate the in vivo limitation of oxygen and drug diffusion and its biological effect, which is the development of cellular resistance to therapy. For the first time, the production and decay of the cytotoxic species singlet oxygen could be observed in a 3D cell culture. Results revealed that the intrinsic mechanism of action is maintained in both systems and, hence, the dynamic mass transfer effects accounted for the major differences in efficacy between the 2D and 3D models. We propose that this methodological approach will help to improve the efficacy of future oxygen- and drug-dependent therapies such as PDT.

Multiple three-dimensional mammalian cell aggregates formed away from solid substrata in ultrasound standing waves

Single and multiple three-dimensional cell aggregates of human red blood cells (RBCs) and HepG2 cells were formed rapidly in low mega-Hertz ultrasound standing wave fields of different geometries. A single discoid aggregate was formed in a half-wavelength pathlength resonator at a cell concentration sufficient to produce a 3D structure. Multiple cell aggregates were formed on the axis of a cylindrical resonator with a plane transducer (discoid aggregates); in a resonator with a tubular transducer and in the cross-fields of plane and tubular transducers and two plane orthogonal transducers (all cylindrical aggregates). Mechanically strong RBC aggregates were obtained by crosslinking with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA, a lectin). Scanning electron microscopy showed aggregate surface porous structures when RBCs were mixed with WGA before sonication and tighter packing when ultrasonically preformed aggregates were subsequently exposed to a flow containing WGA. HepG2 cell aggregates showed strong accumulation of F-actin at sites of cell-cell contact consistent with increased mechanical stability. The aggregates had a porous surface, and yet confocal microscopy revealed a tight packing of cells in the aggregate's inner core.

Effects of peripheral chloro substitution on the photophysical properties and in vitro photodynamic activities of galactose-conjugated silicon(IV) phthalocyanines

A series of silicon(IV) phthalocyanines with two axial isopropylidene-protected galactose moieties and one, two, or eight chloro group(s) on the periphery of the macrocycle have been synthesised and spectroscopically characterised. The photophysical properties and in vitro photodynamic activities of these compounds have been studied and compared with those of the nonchlorinated analogue. All the compounds, with the exception of the octachlorinated counterpart which has a limited solubility, are essentially nonaggregated in N,N-dimethylformamide. The fluorescence quantum yield decreases and the singlet oxygen quantum yield increases as the number of chloro substituent increases, which is in accord with the heavy-atom effect. The non-, mono-, and dichlorinated phthalocyanines formulated with Cremophor EL are all photodynamically active against HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma and HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cells with IC(50) values ranging from 0.03 to 1.05 microM. The photocytotoxicity as well as the efficiency to generate intracellular reactive oxygen species decrease along this series because of the increase in aggregation tendency upon chloro substitution. The nonchlorinated analogue exhibits the highest potency and can target the lysosomes of HT29 cells, whereas the monochlorinated counterpart is not localised in the lysosomes.

Experimental anti-tumor therapy in 3-D: spheroids--old hat or new challenge?

PURPOSE

To give a state-of-the-art overview on the promise of three-dimensional (3-D) culture systems for anticancer drug development, with particular emphasis on multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Cell-based assays have become an integral component in many stages of routine anti-tumor drug testing. However, they are almost always based on homogenous monolayer or suspension cultures and thus represent a rather artificial cellular environment. 3-D cultures--such as the well established spheroid culture system--better reflect the in vivo behavior of cells in tumor tissues and are increasingly recognized as valuable advanced tools for evaluating the efficacy of therapeutic intervention. The present article summarizes past and current applications and particularly discusses technological challenges, required improvements and recent progress with the use of the spheroid model in experimental therapeutics, as a basis for sophisticated drug/therapy screening. A brief overview is given focusing on the nomenclature of spherical 3-D cultures, their potential to mimic many aspects of the pathophysiological situation in tumors, and currently available protocols for culturing and analysis. A list of spheroid-forming epithelial cancer cell lines of different origin is provided and the recent trend to use spheroids for testing combination treatment strategies is highlighted. Finally, various spheroid co-culture approaches are presented that have been established to study heterologous cell interactions in solid tumors and thereby are able to reflect the cellular tumor environment with increasing accuracy. The intriguing observation that in order to retain certain tumor initiating cell properties, some primary tumor cell populations must be maintained exclusively in 3-D culture is mentioned, adding a new but fascinating challenge for future therapeutic campaigns.

Multicell tumor spheroids in photodynamic therapy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Multicell spheroids (MCSs) represent a simple in vitro system ideally suited for studying the effects of a wide variety of investigational treatments including photodynamic therapy (PDT).

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the first section of this review study, an overview of the current literature on MCS in PDT will be presented. Knowledge of basic PDT parameters has been gained from numerous MCS studies, in particular, the mechanisms of sensitizer photobleaching have been elucidated. MCSs have also proven useful for the study of complex PDT treatment regimens including multiple treatments and combined therapies involving PDT and ionizing radiation or hyperthermia. The purpose of the second part of this review is to present results from recent studies in our laboratory aimed at developing MCS models suitable for investigating tumor cell invasion and angiogenesis-processes characteristic of high-grade gliomas.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

To that end, progress has recently been made to develop a more accurate in vivo brain tumor model consisting of biopsy-derived human tumor spheroids implanted into the brains of immunodeficient rats. Finally, recent work suggests that computer simulations may prove useful to describe the growth of MCS and predict the effects of investigational therapies including PDT. Such in silico models have made a number of counterintuitive predictions that have been verified in vitro and, as such, could guide the development of improved therapeutics.

Permeation of hypericin in spheroids composed of different grade transitional cell carcinoma cell lines and normal human urothelial cells

PURPOSE

We investigated the importance of E-cadherin expression on the selective accumulation of hypericin in superficial bladder cancer after intravesical instillation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Spheroids obtained from a panel of 3 transitional cell carcinoma cell lines, namely J-82, RT-4 (American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Virginia) and RT-112 (German Collection of Micro-organisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany), and normal human urothelial (NHU) cells were incubated with hypericin. Accumulation was examined with fluorescence microscopy. Immunohistochemical staining was used to assess E-cadherin expression.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical staining showed E-cadherin expression in NHU (++), RT-112 (+) and RT-4 (+) spheroids, whereas E-cadherin expression was absent in J-82 spheroids. The highest intraspheroidal hypericin accumulation was observed in transitional cell carcinoma spheroids, whereas limited permeation was seen in NHU spheroids. Taken together the data point to an inverse relationship between E-cadherin expression and the permeation of hypericin throughout a 3-dimensional cellular matrix.

CONCLUSIONS

Loss of E-cadherin expression correlates with loss of intercellular adhesion, tight junction formation and enhanced paracellular transport. The data show that E-cadherin hampers the permeation of hypericin in spheroids and the loss of intercellular adhesion, present in superficial bladder cancer lesions, can be associated with enhanced hypericin permeation. Therefore, E-cadherin expression seems to have a pivotal role in the selective uptake of hypericin after intravesical instillation in human bladders.