@article{KošćakPeharBožinovićetal.2022,
  author    = {Košćak, Marta and Pehar, Isabela and Božinović, Ksenija and Kole, Goutam Kumar and Sobočanec, Sandra and Podgorski, Iva I. and Pinterić, Marija and M{\"u}ller-Buschbaum, Klaus and Majhen, Dragomira and Piantanida, Ivo and Marder, Todd B.},
  title     = {Para-N-methylpyridinium pyrenes: impact of positive charge on ds-DNA/RNA and protein recognition, photo-induced bioactivity, and intracellular localisation},
  series = {Pharmaceutics},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Pharmaceutics},
  number    = {11},
  issn      = {1999-4923},
  doi       = {10.3390/pharmaceutics14112499},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-297247},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {The 2- and 2,7- substituted para-N-methylpyridinium pyrene cations show high-affinity intercalation into ds-DNAs, whereas their non-methylated analogues interacted with ds-DNA/RNA only in the protonated form (at pH 5), but not at physiological conditions (pH 7). The fluorescence from non-methylated analogues was strongly dependent on the protonation of the pyridines; consequently, they act as fluorescence ratiometric probes for simultaneous detection of both ds-DNA and BSA at pH 5, relying on the ratio between intensities at 420 nm (BSA specific) and 520 nm (DNA specific), whereby exclusively ds-DNA sensing could be switched-off by adjustment to pH 7. Only methylated, permanently charged pyrenes show photoinduced cleavage of circular DNA, attributed to pyrene-mediated irradiation-induced production of singlet oxygen. Consequently, the moderate toxicity of these cations against human cell lines is strongly increased upon irradiation. Detailed studies revealed increased total ROS production in cells treated by the compounds studied, accompanied by cell swelling and augmentation of cellular complexity. The most photo-active 2-para-N-methylpyridinium pyrene showed significant localization at mitochondria, its photo-bioactivity likely due to mitochondrial DNA damage. Other derivatives were mostly non-selectively distributed between various cytoplasmic organelles, thus being less photoactive.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KoleKošćakAmaretal.2022,
  author    = {Kole, Goutam Kumar and Košćak, Marta and Amar, Anissa and Majhen, Dragomira and Božinović, Ksenija and Brkljaca, Zlatko and Ferger, Matthias and Michail, Evripidis and Lorenzen, Sabine and Friedrich, Alexandra and Krummenacher, Ivo and Moos, Michael and Braunschweig, Holger and Boucekkine, Abdou and Lambert, Christoph and Halet, Jean-Fran{\c{c}}ois and Piantanida, Ivo and M{\"u}ller-Buschbaum, Klaus and Marder, Todd B.},
  title     = {Methyl Viologens of Bis-(4'-Pyridylethynyl)Arenes - Structures, Photophysical and Electrochemical Studies, and their Potential Application in Biology},
  series = {Chemistry - A European Journal},
  volume    = {28},
  journal   = {Chemistry - A European Journal},
  number    = {40},
  doi       = {10.1002/chem.202200753},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-287126},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {A series of bis-(4'-pyridylethynyl)arenes (arene=benzene, tetrafluorobenzene, and anthracene) were synthesized and their bis-N-methylpyridinium compounds were investigated as a class of π-extended methyl viologens. Their structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, and their photophysical and electrochemical properties (cyclic voltammetry), as well as their interactions with DNA/RNA were investigated. The dications showed bathochromic shifts in emission compared to the neutral compounds. The neutral compounds showed very small Stokes shifts, which are a little larger for the dications. All of the compounds showed very short fluorescence lifetimes (<4 ns). The neutral compound with an anthracene core has a quantum yield of almost unity. With stronger acceptors, the analogous bis-N-methylpyridinium compound showed a larger two-photon absorption cross-section than its neutral precursor. All of the dicationic compounds interact with DNA/RNA; while the compounds with benzene and tetrafluorobenzene cores bind in the grooves, the one with an anthracene core intercalates as a consequence of its large, condensed aromatic linker moiety, and it aggregates within the polynucleotide when in excess over DNA/RNA. Moreover, all cationic compounds showed highly specific CD spectra upon binding to ds-DNA/RNA, attributed to the rare case of forcing the planar, achiral molecule into a chiral rotamer, and negligible toxicity toward human cell lines at ≤10 μM concentrations. The anthracene-analogue exhibited intracellular accumulation within lysosomes, preventing its interaction with cellular DNA/RNA. However, cytotoxicity was evident at 1 μM concentration upon exposure to light, due to singlet oxygen generation within cells. These multi-faceted features, in combination with its two-photon absorption properties, suggest it to be a promising lead compound for development of novel light-activated theranostic agents.},
  language  = {en}
}