Metalloporphyrins-Applications and clinical significance

The fascinating structures of naturally occurring porphyrins and metalloporphyrins have been perfected by nature to give functional dyes par excellence. The important roles these tetrapyrrolic macrocycles play in vital biological processes, in particular photosynthesis (chlorophyll), oxygen transport (hemoglobin), oxygen activation (cytochrome), have led to their characterization as 'pigments of life'. Because porphyrins possess extended π-electron systems and exhibit stability, they are finding use, to an increasing extent, in advanced materials, as components in organic metals, molecular wires, and other devices. In medicine, porphyrins are experiencing a renaissance due to the advent of photodynamic therapy of great promise in the treatment of cancer and dermatological diseases. The interdisciplinary interest porphyrins thus generate has provided the impetus to develop Novel-porphyrin like molecules anticipated to exhibit special properties, by structural variation of the tetrapyrrolic macrocycle, while maintaining a (4n+2)π main conjugation pathway.In addition to their esoteric application in science, porphyrins have been shown to have profound implications for therapeutic purposes. Their photosensitizing properties have led to their utilization in photodynamic therapy. Certain metalloporphyrins such as SnPP are being tested as drugs for the treatment of neonatal jaundice. Metalloporphyrins are serving as SOD mimetics to combat oxidative stress and a range of metalloporphyrin complexes have been proposed as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging.