Browsing by Author "Ayan, Seylan"

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Open Access
Molecular demultiplexer as a terminator automaton
(Nature Publishing Group, 2018) Turan, İlke S.; Gunaydin, G.; Ayan, Seylan; Turan, İlke S.
Molecular logic gates are expected to play an important role on the way to information processing therapeutic agents, especially considering the wide variety of physical and chemical responses that they can elicit in response to the inputs applied. Here, we show that a 1:2 demultiplexer based on a Zn2+-terpyridine-Bodipy conjugate with a quenched fluorescent emission, is efficient in photosensitized singlet oxygen generation as inferred from trap compound experiments and cell culture data. However, once the singlet oxygen generated by photosensitization triggers apoptotic response, the Zn2+ complex then interacts with the exposed phosphatidylserine lipids in the external leaflet of the membrane bilayer, autonomously switching off singlet oxygen generation, and simultaneously switching on a bright emission response. This is the confirmatory signal of the cancer cell death by the action of molecular automaton and the confinement of unintended damage by excessive singlet oxygen production.
Open Access
Photodynamic therapy for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer–a review of the current clinical status
(Frontiers Research Foundation, 2021-08-02) Günaydın, G.; Gedik, M. E.; Ayan, Seylan
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used as an anti-tumor treatment method for a long time and photosensitizers (PS) can be used in various types of tumors. Originally, light is an effective tool that has been used in the treatment of diseases for ages. The effects of combination of specific dyes with light illumination was demonstrated at the beginning of 20th century and novel PDT approaches have been developed ever since. Main strategies of current studies are to reduce off-target effects and improve pharmacokinetic properties. Given the high interest and vast literature about the topic, approval of PDT as the first drug/device combination by the FDA should come as no surprise. PDT consists of two stages of treatment, combining light energy with a PS in order to destruct tumor cells after activation by light. In general, PDT has fewer side effects and toxicity than chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. In addition to the purpose of treatment, several types of PSs can be used for diagnostic purposes for tumors. Such approaches are called photodynamic diagnosis (PDD). In this Review, we provide a general overview of the clinical applications of PDT in cancer, including the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Assessment of PDT therapeutic efficacy in the clinic will be discussed, since identifying predictors to determine the response to treatment is crucial. In addition, examples of PDT in various types of tumors will be discussed. Furthermore, combination of PDT with other therapy modalities such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy will be emphasized, since such approaches seem to be promising in terms of enhancing effectiveness against tumor. The combination of PDT with other treatments may yield better results than by single treatments. Moreover, the utilization of lower doses in a combination therapy setting may cause less side effects and better results than single therapy. A better understanding of the effectiveness of PDT in a combination setting in the clinic as well as the optimization of such complex multimodal treatments may expand the clinical applications of PDT.
Open Access
Photodynamic therapy—current limitations and novel approaches
(Frontiers Research Foundation, 2021-06-10) Ayan, Seylan; Gedik, M. E.; Günaydın, G.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) mostly relies on the generation of singlet oxygen, via the excitation of a photosensitizer, so that target tumor cells can be destroyed. PDT can be applied in the settings of several malignant diseases. In fact, the earliest preclinical applications date back to 1900’s. Dougherty reported the treatment of skin tumors by PDT in 1978. Several further studies around 1980 demonstrated the effectiveness of PDT. Thus, the technique has attracted the attention of numerous researchers since then. Hematoporphyrin derivative received the FDA approval as a clinical application of PDT in 1995. We have indeed witnessed a considerable progress in the field over the last century. Given the fact that PDT has a favorable adverse event profile and can enhance anti-tumor immune responses as well as demonstrating minimally invasive characteristics, it is disappointing that PDT is not broadly utilized in the clinical setting for the treatment of malignant and/or non-malignant diseases. Several issues still hinder the development of PDT, such as those related with light, tissue oxygenation and inherent properties of the photosensitizers. Various photosensitizers have been designed/synthesized in order to overcome the limitations. In this Review, we provide a general overview of the mechanisms of action in terms of PDT in cancer, including the effects on immune system and vasculature as well as mechanisms related with tumor cell destruction. We will also briefly mention the application of PDT for non-malignant diseases. The current limitations of PDT utilization in cancer will be reviewed, since identifying problems associated with design/synthesis of photosensitizers as well as application of light and tissue oxygenation might pave the way for more effective PDT approaches. Furthermore, novel promising approaches to improve outcome in PDT such as selectivity, bioengineering, subcellular/organelle targeting, etc. will also be discussed in detail, since the potential of pioneering and exceptional approaches that aim to overcome the limitations and reveal the full potential of PDT in terms of clinical translation are undoubtedly exciting. A better understanding of novel concepts in the field (e.g. enhanced, two-stage, fractional PDT) will most likely prove to be very useful for pursuing and improving effective PDT strategies.
Open Access
Proof-of-principle for two-stage photodynamic therapy: Hypoxia triggered release of singlet oxygen
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2020-11) Ayan, Seylan; Günaydın, G.; Yeşilgül-Mehmetcik, Nisa; Gedik, M. E.; Seven, Özlem; Akkaya, Engin U.
We propose to overcome oxygen deficiency and light attenuation problems in photodynamic therapy (PDT), by separating photoexcitation and singlet oxygen delivery of the PDT process into two distinct operations to be carried out sequentially, at different locations. We now demonstrate the viability of this approach, using 2-pyridone derivative which yields a relatively stable endoperoxide. The initial storage endoperoxide obtained is transformed enzymatically into a more labile compound when placed in hypoxic cell cultures, and releases singlet oxygen significantly faster. The potential of this approach in advancing PDT beyond its current limits is exciting.
Open Access
Towards therapeutic automata and hypoxia activated singlet oxygen generators
(2019-08) Ayan, Seylan
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality depends on the efficient generation of singlet oxygen (1O2) through excitation of a particular chromophore (sensitizer) followed by an energy transfer to the dissolved oxygen in tumor tissues. Cytotoxic singlet oxygen and other secondary products (reactive oxygen species, ROS) are responsible for the apoptotic and necrotic deaths of the tumor cells. We present a molecular 1:2 demultiplexer (DEMUX) which acts as a "terminator" automaton: once powered up by photoexcitation, the agent releases singlet oxygen to kill cancer cells. Once the cancer cells start apoptosis, the agent interacts with the exposed phosphatidylserines on the external leaflet, and autonomously switches to the signaling mode, turning on a bright emission signal, and turning off singlet oxygen generation. So, the output can switch between singlet oxygen and a confirmatory fluorescence emission for apoptosis, which are mutually exclusive in this design. The automaton that we present here, is based on logic gate considerations and a sound photophysical understanding of the system, and should be a very convincing case of molecular logic with a clear path of progress towards practicality. In another project, we are very much interested in transforming PDT into a more manageable and broadly applicable therapeutic protocol. Our approach to achieve that is to separate photosensitization event from the delivery of singlet oxygen, which is the primary cytotoxic agent of PDT. Thus, a storage compound (endoperoxide) for singlet oxygen has to be designed, which can react with molecular oxygen under typical photosensitization conditions, and then the metastable compound has to be transferred to the tumor site which would release its cargo in response to a chemical or enzymatic cue. This approach assumes that singlet oxygen produced stoichiometrically (as opposed to catalytically through photosensitization) by the chemical transformation of the carrier molecule, would be enough to trigger apoptotic response in cancer cells.