Investigation of in vitro efficacy of novel BODIPY compounds for photodynamic therapy

The aim of this study was to determine whether four different water soluble BODIPY compounds containing pyridinium and dimethylamino groups are suitable PDT agents for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Therefore, photochemical and DNA binding properties of the compounds were determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, viscosimetry and agarose gel electrophoresis methods. Plasmid pBR322 DNA nuclease and topoisomerase I/II inhibition properties of water soluble BODIPY compounds were investigated using agarose gel electrophoresis method. In addition, molecular docking studies of topoisomerase I/II inhibition of compounds have been performed. The cytotoxic / phototoxic effects of BODIPY compounds on the colorectal cancer cell line (HCT-116) were investigated using MTT assay. Flow cytometry and phase contrast microscope were used to determine the cell death mechanism of BODIPY compounds that exhibit high phototoxic effect against HCT-116 cells. Finally, in vitro cytotoxic and phototoxic effects of water soluble compounds with nanocarrier systems were investigated using MTT method on HCT-116 cells. As results of all these studies, it was determined that BODIPY-6a has promising photosensitizer agent in the treatment of colorectal cancer due to its photochemical, DNA interaction and phototoxicity properties.