Atomic force microscopy and dark-toxicity pattern of unsymmetrical metallated porphyrins M(II)P-type as theranostics agents

Abstract Two unsymmetrical metalloporphyrins, of M(II)P-type, Cu(II)-5-[(3,4-methylenedioxy)phenyl]-10,15,20–tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl) porphyrin and Zn(II)-5-[(3,4-methylenedioxy)phenyl]-10,15,20–tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl) porphyrin have been investigated by means of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and in vitro cytotoxicity measurements. AFM studies emphasized the highly self-similarity of the investigated compounds on the basis of mean fractal dimension values. A specific morphology, consisting in alternative hillocks and valleys which have tens of nanometers, that are suitable for cell adhesion was observed. Short term as well as long term dark toxicity tests were performed on Human U937 cell line and Human peripheral mononuclear cells isolated from venous blood of normal volunteers and cancer patients. It was found that both short and long term incubation of U937 cells with Cu(II)P19.2 and Zn(II)P19.2 doesn’t distress cellular viability, sustaining the non-toxic outline of M(II)P-type series upon monocytic cell line.