Photochemistry and Photobiology最新文献

"Photochemistry and Photobiology," currently part of Wiley-Blackwell edition group is the official Journal of the American Society for Photobiology. The Journal is a suitable platform for the publication of scientific information on a wide range of domains of Photosciences spanning from photophysical and photochemical events to biological consequences. In addition to regular contributions, essentially original research and review articles, special issues are published on invitation. This covers various subjects including survey of timely topics, outstanding scientist recognition and celebration of scientific events. The Editorial Board composed of 32 internationally recognized experts plays a major role in handling fairly and rigorously the peer-review of the manuscripts with the efficient support of the Managing Editor. Importantly Wiley has recently implemented an improved manuscript submission system together with a more attractive format for the published articles. These suitable conditions should favor the submission of manuscripts and help to consolidate/improve the attractiveness of the Journal.

Chronic wounds are a major healthcare issue affecting more than 10 million Americans each year, with a 5-year survival similar to cancer and costing the healthcare system billions of dollars annually. Current solutions, such as antiseptics and antibiotics, can be toxic to cells or contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Exposure to germicidal ultraviolet radiation (GUV) at 254 nm has been reported as an effective method for chronic wound management. However, concerns about the health hazards from exposure to 254 nm radiation have limited its use for wound management applications. In contrast, wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation in the range of 200-235 nm have exhibited similar germicidal ability but with a lower penetration range in tissue, potentially making those wavelengths better suited for chronic wound disinfection. In this study, a novel phototherapy device emitting principally at 234 nm was used to assess the killing efficacy against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Potential health hazards from exposure using the device were evaluated using a 3D human skin model. The ultraviolet exposure device tested in this study shows promise for effective decontamination of chronic nonhealing wounds without associated health hazards.

Among the luminescent animals, fireflies have been extensively investigated throughout the world. Enzymatic characterization using recombinant proteins has been achieved after the first cloning of the Photinus pyralis luciferase gene. Firefly luciferase is pH sensitive, emitting a red-shifted color when the pH of the reaction buffer is lowered. This trait is only known for fireflies and not in other luminescent beetles, including click beetles (Elateridae) and railroad worms (Phengodidae). Until now, firefly luciferases from North America, Central and South America, Europe, and East Asia have been intensively studied. Recently, molecular phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial DNA have revealed relationships between firefly species in South Asia and India. However, the enzymatic characterization of luciferases from such species has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we collected a firefly in India and enzymatically characterized its luciferase. Molecular phylogenetic analysis using cytochrome oxidase I suggested that this firefly is closely related to the genus Abscondita. The luciferase gene obtained from the RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was expressed using Escherichia coli and was used to characterize the luciferase. Its optimum temperature and pH were 30°C and 7.0, respectively. The maximum emission wavelength was around 570 nm when a pH 6.0 or 8.0 reaction buffer was used, and no apparent red shift was observed.

Singlet oxygen (¹O₂) is a reactive species that plays a role in environmental and biological surface chemistry; however, the mechanisms of the association of airborne ¹O₂ at the air/surface interface are poorly known. Here, we help resolve this problem using ¹O₂'s near-infrared (NIR) phosphorescence and geometric analysis based on the slope inflection angle (θ) of air-to-particle transfer. This offers insight into ¹O₂-surface binding as opposed to conventional kinetic analysis. Two 9,10-disubstituted anthracene quenchers were adsorbed to the particle surface, producing θ ranging from ~91° (greater quenching) to ~99° (less quenching) due to the reduction of airborne ¹O₂ lifetime (τ_airborne) by 43% to 95%. A more efficient (lower θ) ¹O₂ quenching is observed in the order dimethylanthracene-coated particle > anthracene dianion-coated particle > native silica. The anthracene dianion charges and surface silanols did not enhance the ¹O₂ surface quenching. Indeed, the quenching of airborne ¹O₂ by native silica was minimal, in which a slight reduction in its surface lifetime (τ_surf) was observed (0-5%). This θ approach opens up opportunities in fields such as surface oxidation processes in nanoplastics, which is an emerging concern.

The problem of increasing the efficacy of fungal infection treatment is a pressing issue in modern medicine due to increasing resistance of pathogenic microorganisms to antifungal drugs. At the same time, the development of new antifungal drugs is a complex, lengthy, and expensive task, since there is a close evolutionary relationship between fungal eukaryotes and human somatic cells. The aim of this work is to enhance the pharmacotherapeutic activity of the widely used antifungal polyene antibiotic "Amphotericin B". As a result of in vitro studies using somatic cells, the ability of Amphotericin B to act as a photosensitizer when exposed to light in the blue spectral region, corresponding to the absorption band of the drug, as well as to sensitize the Type II photochemical reactions (generation of singlet oxygen) and radical processes (Type I reactions) was demonstrated. When modeling contact dermatitis on depilated areas of rat skin, it was found that the combined use of Amphotericin B and radiation from super-bright LEDs with a wavelength of λ_max = 405 nm enhances the fungicidal effect of the drug and also causes a reliable decrease in the characteristic signs of dermatitis compared to the effect of each of the specified factors separately. The results obtained can find wide application in medical practice for the treatment of fungal lesions of the skin, oral cavity, female genital area, and so forth. The presence of photosensitizer (Amphotericin B), approved for use, and phototherapeutic equipment corresponding to its absorption spectrum make it possible to develop the necessary medical technologies.

Solar ultraviolet (sUV) radiation is a major environmental factor that induces DNA damage, promoting skin aging and carcinogenesis. The formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) is one of the most prevalent forms of UV-induced DNA lesions, playing a central role in skin photocarcinogenesis. Constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS), responsible for basal nitric oxide (NO^˙) production, has been implicated in various cellular processes, including the DNA damage response. However, the role of cNOS in modulating DNA repair post-UV exposure has not been explored. In this study, we investigated the impact of cNOS deficiency on CPD repair following sUV exposure using both in vivo and in vitro models. SKH-1 hairless wild-type and nNOS^+/-/eNOS^-/- (cNOS-deficient) mice were chronically exposed to sUV, revealing significantly exacerbated skin lesions in cNOS-deficient animals. Primary fibroblasts and skin explants derived from these mice, as well as HEK293 cells with stable cNOS overexpression, were analyzed for CPD formation and repair dynamics. Our findings show that cNOS knockout leads to impaired CPD repair, with CPD levels persisting longer in cNOS-deficient cells and tissues compared with wild-type controls. Reintroduction of cNOS expression in HEK293 cells accelerated CPD clearance early post-sUV exposure, suggesting a protective role for cNOS in the DNA repair process. These results highlight cNOS as a critical modulator of UV-induced DNA damage repair and underscore its potential role in mitigating skin carcinogenesis.

This review presents the progression from the use of fluorescent proteins (FPs) and chromoproteins as bioimaging labels and sensors to the strategic engineering of their properties for robust functionality in synthetic and non-biological environments. Specifically, engineered variants of the small ultra-red fluorescent protein (smURFP) were developed and optimized for optoacoustic imaging through structure-guided mutagenesis. Reversibly switchable genetically encoded indicators were also created to enhance bioimaging capabilities. To extend the applicability of such proteins to material science and enable their function in everyday applications-such as environmental sensors, encoders, or color components in textiles and electronics-their inherent stability limitations were addressed. For this purpose, supramolecular stabilization strategies, including genetically encoded macro-oligomerization techniques, were explored. These methods effectively enhanced the resilience of FPs under chemically challenging conditions, without compromising their photophysical properties. Finally, the exploration of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) from FPs is discussed, and their potential as CPL emitters suitable for sustainable photonic applications is identified. Overall, the transformative potential of engineered FPs as essential components for applications beyond bioimaging is emphasized.

Notably, the G-series nerve agents possess extreme toxicity and can be synthesized through a facile protocol; their abuse becomes a significant threat to the environment and human life. Hence, it is emerging to develop an efficient chemosensor for the selective identification of these nerve agents. In this report, we have presented an azine-based symmetrical fluorogenic probe, BAH, for the selective detection of sarin gas, one of the fatal G-series nerve agent surrogates, diethylchlorophosphate (DCP). BAH is non-fluorescent, but the progressive accumulation of DCP displays a naked-eye bright greenish cyan fluorometric change under a 365 UV lamp. Recognizable greenish cyan color fluorescence diminished completely for the accumulation of triethylamine (TEA), confirming its reusability multiple times. A paper strips-based test kit experiment has also been demonstrated for the onsite detection of these nerve agents, especially in remote areas in solution and vapor phases, respectively. A superior application combining the attractiveness and efficiency of BAH in the gaseous phase was also demonstrated. The BAH-based fluorogenic sensor shows excellent selectivity towards DCP with a detection and quantification limit in the μM range. The simple, rapid detection makes our probe unique and has significant utility for the recognition of DCP in real threat scenarios.

Cancer is a chronic disease responsible for millions of deaths annually. Its multifaceted profile, with diverse types and anatomical locations, complicates treatment, often limited to surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. These treatments are frequently associated with increased tumor aggressiveness and recurrence, highlighting the urgent need for new, less invasive therapies. Recent studies suggest that blue light (BL; 450-470 nm) may offer anti-tumor and pro-apoptotic effects, making it a promising alternative for cancer treatment. However, its cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This qualitative systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, analyzed 37 in vitro and in vivo studies published between 2002 and 2024, retrieved from databases including MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and LILACS, with a focus on the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) with blue light (450-470 nm) in pre-clinical cancer models. BL demonstrated anti-tumor potential by reducing cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as increasing ROS production and inducing apoptosis. In animal models, BL also inhibited tumor growth, metastasis, and improved survival. Despite the encouraging findings, considerable methodological heterogeneity and insufficient reporting of dosimetric parameters compromise the reproducibility and comparability of results across studies. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of BL in oncology and highlight the need for standardized protocols to support clinical translation.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) remains a significant barrier to successful chemotherapy outcomes for cancer patients. While photoactivation of verteporfin (VP), a photosensitizer, has demonstrated success for overcoming MDR through direct protein aggregation upon photoactivation and through adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion, the impact of VP's formulation on P-gp function and cellular energetics has not been fully characterized in this context. In this study, we screened four well-established VP formulations-liposomal VP (L-VP), lysophosphatidylcholine-conjugated VP (lysoPC VP), liposomal formulation of lysoPC VP (L-lysoPC VP), and a self-assembled VP nanoaggregate (NanoVP), with a free form of VP as a control-for their ability to inhibit P-gp. Using a combination of in vitro intracellular VP accumulation assays, P-gp substrate retention experiments, and Seahorse-based metabolic profiling, we identified NanoVP as the lead formulation for P-gp modulation in cancer cells. NanoVP effectively depleted ATP in drug-resistant cancer cells, while being recognized as a P-gp substrate. Photodynamic priming with NanoVP at sub-cytotoxic light doses enhanced P-gp substrate retention within the cells without damaging P-gp protein, indicating ATP depletion as the primary mode of functional inhibition. These findings highlighted NanoVP's clinical potential to enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy via photoactivation-based modulation of P-gp's function in multidrug-resistant cancers.