Increasing attention has been paid in recent years to the development of organic molecules designed to accumulate in cellular organelles. Mitochondria are one of the targets of current investigations [1], both in the bioimaging field and in the therapeutic area. Mitochondrial probes described in the literature share some common features, such as a delocalized positive charge along an extended aromatic organic structure. The term "delocalized lipophilic cation" (DLC) is commonly used to describe this class of mitochondria-locating structures.
Our group has focused over the past few years on studying a series of DLCs with the aim of delivering them to the mitochondria of living cells to image biologically relevant biomolecules, particularly reactive nitrogen species like nitric oxide (NO). This presentation will provide an overview of these investigations [2], highlighting not only the biosensors used for bioimaging but also related photobiological applications like the development of photoactive agents for photodynamic therapy (especially antimicrobial).
References
[1] (a) C. Ma, F. Xia, S. O. Kelley, Bioconjugate Chem. 2020, 31, 2650; (b) M. I. Sánchez, Y. Vida, E. Pérez-Inestrosa, J. L. Mascareñas, M. E. Vázquez, A. Sugiura, J. Martínez-Costas, Sci. Rep. 2020, 10, 3528; (c) M. López-Corrales, A. Rovira, A. Gandioso, S. Nonell, M. Bosch, V. Marchán, J. Org. Chem. 2023, 88, 7128.
[2] (a) A. Beltrán, M. I. Burguete, D. R. Abánades, D. Pérez-Sala, S. V. Luis, F. Galindo, Chem. Commun. 2014, 50, 3579; (b) A. Beltrán, M. I. Burguete, S. V. Luis, F. Galindo, Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2017, 4864; (c) I. Muñoz Resta, J. F. Miravet, M. Yamaji, F. Galindo, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2020, 8, 14348; (d) I. Muñoz Resta, F. Lucantoni, N. Apostolova, F. Galindo, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2021, 19, 9043; (e) I. Muñoz Resta, B. Bedrina, E. Martínez-Planes, A. Minguela, F. Galindo, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2021, 9, 9885; (f) I. Muñoz Resta, F. Galindo, Dyes & Pigments, 2022, 197, 109908.