Abstract: New advantageous compositions and methods for treatment of malignancies such as basel cell carcinoma and other skin cancers, brain tumors, head and neck cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer and other cancer types. The new compositions and methods may also be used for treatment of non-cancer problems such as dermatological diseases, sexual diseases, anti-fungal and antibacterial and wound healing. A new photodynamic therapy/sonodynamic therapy (PDT/SDT) combination approach using near infrared (NIR) tetrapyrrolic photosensitizers (PSs) with long wavelength absorption, in the range of 750-800 nm, that provides deeper tissue penetration. Such combinations may be postloaded onto PAA nanoparticles (NPs) for better delivery to a tumor site. A preferred sonodynamic compound is fullerene 60 but other sonodynamic compounds may be employed. The unique NP formulations of the invention can contain chemotherapeutic agents releasable by ultrasound in cancer or other hyperproliferative tissue.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising porphyrin-phospholipid nanovesicles (PoP-NVs) which can be loaded with cargo. Methods for release of cargo from the PoP-NVs triggered by near infrared (NIR) light are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for treatment of hyperproliferative tissue which by exposing the hyperproliferative tissue to a sufficient quantity of a purified iridoid compound to inhibit its growth, where the iridoid compound includes a polysubstituted cyclopenta(c)dihydropyran where the cyclopenta ring is substituted at its 2? position with a ketofuryl group, where the numbering of the fused cyclopenta(c)dihydropyran ring structure includes heterocyclic oxygen, is counterclockwise and begins at the first carbon atom counterclockwise from the cyclopenta ring so that oxygen is in the 2 position in the pyran ring. The invention also includes the mouse iridoid compounds.

Abstract: A tetrapyrollic photosensitizer compound having at least one pendant —CH2CH2CON(CH2CON(CH2COOH)2)2 or —N(CH2COOH)2 group or esters thereof said tetrapyrollic compound being a chlorin, bacteriochlorin, porphyrin, pyropheophorbide, purpurinimide, or bacteriopurpurinimide. Desirably the compound has the formula: or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, wherein R1-R8 and R10 are various substituents and R9 is substituted or unsubstituted —CH2CH2CON(CH2CON(CH2COOH)2)2; or —N(CH2COOH)2. The invention also includes a method of treatment by photodynamic therapy by treatment with light after injecting the compound and a method of imaging by fluorescence after injection of the compound.

Abstract: This invention provides nanocrystals or polymer doped nanocrystals of hydrophobic drug molecules as stably dispersed in an aqueous system which are prepared without stabilizers like surfactants and the like. In one embodiment, the drug is a tetra-pyrrole compound. An example is the hydrophobic photosensitizing anticancer drug 2-devinyl-2-(1-hexyloxyethyl)pyropheophorbide (HPPH). Pharmaceutical compositions comprising nanocrystals or polymer doped nanocrystals of hydrophobic drugs can be used for therapeutic purposes. For example pyropheophorbides such as HPPH can be used for photodynamic therapy. Drug efficacy of these nanocrystals were found to be comparable with that of same drug formulated in conventional delivery vehicles under in vitro and in vivo conditions.

Abstract: Novel tetrapyrollic water soluble photosensitizing and imaging compounds and the methods of treating and imaging hyperproliferative tissue, e.g. tumors and hypervacularized tissue such as found in macular degeneration. Broadly, the compounds are tetrapyrollic photosensitizer compounds where the tetrapyrollic compound is a chlorin, bacteriochlorin, porphyrin, pyropheophorbide, purpurinimide, or bacteriopurpurinimide having 3 to 6 —CH2CONHphenylCH2CH(N(CH2COOH)2))(CH2N(CH2COOH)(CH2CH2N(CH2COOH)2)) groups or esters thereof or complexes thereof with gadolinium(III).

Abstract: A compound comprising a chemical combination of a photodynamic tetra-pyrrolic compound with a plurality of radionuclide element atoms such that the compound may be used to enhance MR imaging and also be used as a photodynamic compound for use in photodynamic therapy to treat hyperproliferative tissue. The preferred compounds have the structural formula: where R1, R2, R2a R3, R3a R4, R5, R5a R6, R7, R7a, and R8 cumulatively contain at least two functional groups that will complex or combine with an MR imaging enhancing element or ion. The compound is intended to include such complexes and combinations and includes the use of such compounds for MR imaging and photodynamic therapy treatment of tumors and other hyperproliferative tissue.

Abstract: This invention describes a first report on the synthesis of certain 124I-labelled photosensitizers related to chlorines and bacteriochlorins with long wavelength absorption in the range of 660-800 nm. In preliminary studies, these compounds show a great potential for tumor detection by positron emission tomography (PET) and treatment by photodynamic therapy (PDT). The development of tumor imaging or improved photodynamic therapy agent(s) itself represent an important step, but a dual function agent (PET imaging and PDT) provides the potential for diagnostic body scan followed by targeted therapy.

Abstract: A compound having the structural formula: where R is H or lower alkyl of 1 through 12 carbon atoms. In general, the compounds of the invention are 132-Oxo-bacteriopyropheophorbide-a carboxylic acid and C1-C12 alkyl esters thereof. A method for the preparation of the carboxylic acid compounds of the invention includes the step of reacting bacteriopyropheophorbide-a alkyl ester with lithium hydroxide in tetrahydrofuran and water.

Abstract: A method for treatment of hyperproliferative tissue which by exposing the hyperproliferative tissue to a sufficient quantity of a purified iridoid compound to inhibit its growth, where the iridoid compound includes a polysubstituted cyclopenta(c)dihydropyran where the cyclopenta ring is substituted at its 2? position with a ketofuryl group, where the numbering of the fused cyclopenta(c)dihydropyran ring structure includes heterocyclic oxygen, is counterclockwise and begins at the first carbon atom counterclockwise from the cyclopenta ring so that oxygen is in the 2 position in the pyran ring. The invention also includes the mouse iridoid compounds.