Claims for Patent: 6,827,926

Summary for Patent: 6,827,926

Title:	Metallotetrapyrrolic photosensitizing agents for use in photodynamic therapy
Abstract:	Metallotetrapyrrolic compounds having photherapeutic properties useful in photodetection and phototherapy of target issues, particularly porphyrins and azaporphyrins that including gallium in the central pyrrolic core. Also disclosed are methods of using metallotetrapyrrolic compounds for the treatment or detection of cardiovascular disease.
Inventor(s):	Robinson; Byron C. (Santa Barbara, CA), Leitch; Ian M. (Goleta, CA), Greene; Stephanie (Goleta, CA), Rychnovsky; Steve (Santa Barbara, CA)
Assignee:	Miravant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Santa Barbara, CA)
Application Number:	10/159,005
Patent Claims:	1. A method of using a gallium porphyrin to treat or detect atherosclerosis restenosis, or graft disease, comprising administering to a patient an effective amount of a porphyrin compound that coordinates gallium in the central pyrrolic core, and irradiating said porphyrin compound with energy at a wavelength capable of exciting the molecule to achieve the desired detection or therapeutic effect. 2. A method of using a gallium mono-, di-, tri-, or tetra-azaporphyrin to treat or detect atherosclerosis, restenosis, or graft disease, comprising administering to a patient an effective amount of a mono-, di-, tri-, or tetra-azaporphyrin compound that coordinates gallium in the central pyrrolic core, and irradiating said mono-, di-, tri-, or tetra-azaporphyrin compound with energy at a wavelength capable of exciting the molecule to achieve the desired detection or therapeutic effect. 3. A method for the detection or treatment of atherosclerosis, restenosis, or graft disease, comprising administering to a patient, locally or systemically, an effective amount of a porphyrin or a mono-, di-, tri-, or tetra-azaporphyrin, that coordinates a gallium in the central tetrapyrrolic core, and irradiating said porphyrin or azaporphyrin with energy at a wavelength capable of exciting the molecule to achieve the desired detection or therapeutic effect. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said porphyrin compound is selected from gallium (III) mesoporphyrin diacid, gallium (III) mesoporphyrin dimethyl ester, gallium (III) mesoporphyrin diethyl ester, and gallium (III) mesoporphyrin dipropyl ester, gallium (III) mesoporphyrin dibutyl ester, gallium (III) mesoporphyrin dipentyl ester, gallium (III) mesoporphyrin dihexyl ester, gallium (III) mesoporphyrin N,N-diethylamide, gallium (III) deuteroporphyrin diacid, gallium (III) deuteroporphyrin dimethyl ester, gallium (III) deuteroporphyrin diethyl ester, gallium (III) deuteroporphyrin dipropyl ester, gallium (III) deuteroporphyrin dibutyl ester, gallium (III) deuteroporphyrin dipentyl ester, gallium (III) deuteroporphyrin dihexyl ester, and .beta.-halogenated derivatives and salts thereof. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said porphyrin compound is selected from mesoporphyrin derivatives, deuteroporphyrin derivatives, coproporphyrin derivatives, uroporphyrin derivatives, pentacarboxyporphyrin derivatives, hematoporphyrin derivatives, protoporphyrin derivatives, hexacarboxyporphyrin derivatives, chloroporphyrin e6 derivatives, chloroporphyrin e4 derivatives, phylloporphyrin derivatives, rhodoporphyrin derivatives, pyrroporphyrin derivatives, pheoporphyrin a5 derivatives, and phylloerythrin derivatives. 6. A method of using a tetrapyrrolic macrocycle that coordinates gallium in the central pyrrolic core to treat or detect atherosclerosis, restenonsis, or graft disease, comprising administering to a patient an effective amount of said tetrapyrrolic macrocycle, and irradiating said macrocycle with energy at a wavelength capable of exciting the molecule to achieve the desired detection or therapeutic effect, wherein said gallium co-ordinating tetrapyrrolic macrocycle is selected from a porphyrin, a azaporphyrin, a diazaporphyrin, a triazaporphyrin, a corrole, a porphycene, a isoporphycene, a hemiporphycene, and a corrphycene. 7. The method of any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 for treating a vessel wall or tissue adjoining the vessel wall, or material attached to the vessel wall of a patient's coronary, carotid or peripheral vasculature. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said vessel is an artery or a vein. 9. The method of claim 3 wherein said therapeutic effect is achieved by eliminating normal contractile phenotype vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), non-contractile synthetic phenotype VSMC, myofibroblasts, endothelial cells, macrophages, leukocytes, monocytes, erthyrocytes, platelets, (thrombocytes) or combinations thereof. 10. The method of claim 3, wherein said therapeutic effect is observed on fibronectin, vitronectin, collagen, elastin, fibrinogen, proteoglycans, or metalloproteinases. 11. The method of claim 3, wherein said treatment involves ablation, reduction and/or stabilization of the vessel wall plaque. 12. The method according to claim 3, wherein said treatment is of restenosis of occlusive tissue formation induced in the vessel wall or by vascular injury to the vessel wall. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said restenosis is selected from vessel wall negative geometric remodelling, intimal thickening, increased intraluminal shear stress, dysfunctional or absent endothelium, periadventitial fibrosis, increased motor tone, fibrotic contracture, scar formation or combinations thereof. 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said injury is via balloon angioplasty. 15. The method of claim 12 wherein said injury is stent deployment. 16. The method of claim 12 wherein said injury is from an endovascular device. 17. The method of claim 12 wherein said occlusive tissue is foreign tissue. 18. The method of claim 12 wherein said occlusive tissue is host tissue. 19. The method of claim 12 wherein said occlusive tissue is from an injury via invasive or non-invasive surgical manipulation of the vessel. 20. The method of claim 19 wherein said surgical manipulation is selected from suturing, vascular access, anastomosis, bypass procedure, or shunt. 21. The method of claim 3 for treatment of arteriovenous shunts. 22. The method of any of claims 1, 2, and 3, further including the step of delivering an activatable agent into tissue of the vessel wall which continues to act therapeutically with or without exposure to an energy source. 23. The method of any of claims 1, 2, and 3 wherein said energy source is selected from light, ultrasound, magnetic force, electromagnetic radiation, LEDs or lasers in the UV/visible electromagnetic spectrum or near infrared. 24. The method of claim 23 wherein said energy is an illuminating step of wavelength between about 350 to about 900 nm on the tissue of the vascular vessel wall. 25. The method of claim 24 wherein said illuminating step comprises illuminating a plurality of times, each for a duration and in an area sufficient to impart a treatment effect within the vascular vessel wall. 26. The method of claim 3 wherein the detected disease is atherosclerotic plaque. 27. The method of claim 13, wherein said stabilization involves collagen cross linking. 28. A method for the treatment of graft disease comprising administering to a graft tissue a therapeutic amount of a tetrapyrrolic molecule that coordinates gallium in the central tetrapyrrolic core and irradiating said graft with energy at a wavelength capable of exciting the tetrapyrrolic molecule, such that the graft tissue is made less immunogenic to the host. 29. The method of claim 3 wherein said administration of porphyrin or azaporphyrin is prior to, concomitant with, or subsequent to, administration of adjunctive interventions, diagnostics or therapies. 30. The method of claim 3 wherein said administration is a single bolus or plurality of doses administered to the patient. 31. A method of claim 3 wherein said local administration is selected from perivascular delivery, pericardial delivery into perivascular sac, periadventital delivery, intravascular delivery using elution from placed stents impregnated with porphyrin or azaporphyrin, endovascular delivery using balloon catheters with micropores or channels, or transmural injection ports pressurized and enhanced by mechanical and electrical means to facilitate intramural and transmural penetration of the prophyrin or azaprophyrin into the target tissue. 32. The method of claim 3 wherein said systemic administration is selected from parenterally, orally, intravascularly, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intradermal or by inhalation. 33. The method of claim 29 wherein said adjunctive interventions are selected from balloon angioplasty, invasive or non-invasive surgical procedures, stent deployment, cutting balloons, embolic protection devices, rotational and directional atherectomy, and eximer laserectomy. 34. A method according to claim 29 wherein said therapies are selected from radiation therapy, chemotherapy, anti-platelet agents, vasodilators, antihypertensives, anti-arrhythmics, sonotherapy, hyperthermia, cryotherapy, magnetic force, viral or non-viral gene therapy, pharmacogenetic therapy, antibodies, vaccines, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors, growth factors, peptides, DNA delivery, nucleic acids, anticancer drugs, steroid hormones, anti-inflammatories, proteins, anti-apoptotic therapies, anti-sense agents, immunosuppressants, immunotoxins, immunomodulators, antibody-drug conjugates, anti-proliferative therapies, drug eluting stents containing pharmacologically active agents, hormone products, chelating agents, diuretics, cardiac glycosides, bronchodilators, antibiotics, antivirals, antitioxins, cyclosporins, thrombolytic agents, interferons, blood products such as parental iron and hemin, anti-fungal agents, antianginals, anticoagulants, analgesics, narcotics, neuromuscular blockers, sedatives, bacterial vaccines, viral vaccines, DNA or RNA of natural or synthetic origin including recombinant RNA and DNA, cytokines and their antagonists/inhibitors, chemokines and their antagonists/inhibitors, vitamins, and antioxidants. 35. The method of claim 29 wherein said diagnostics are selected from intra-vascular ultrasound radiofrequency imaging or elastography, angiography, radiological contrast agents, electromechanical mapping, fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy, optical coherance tomography, high resolution Magnetic Resonance, electron beam tomography, combined raman spectroscopy and particle induced x-ray emission, radionucleotide technology, fluorescence based optical analysis, and thermal mapping. 36. The method of any of claims 1, 2, and 3 wherein said metallated porphyrin is formulated by encapsulation in carriers selected from water, deionized water, phosphate buffered saline, aqueous ethanol, glucose, amino acids, vegetable oils, liposomes, immunoliposomes, cyclodextrans, microspheres, nanoparticles, lipoproteins, micellular systems or combinations thereof. 37. The method of claim 36 wherein said formulation is selected from slow release, a prodrug, tablets, pills, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, granules or capsules. 38. The method of any of claims 1 and 3, wherein the gallium porphyrin is a compound of the following formula I: ##STR23## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.12 can be the same or different and can be selected from: hydrogen, halide, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, haloalkyl, heterohaloalkyl, cyclic alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, amide, ester, ether, polyether, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, haloalkoxy group, amino group, alkylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aryloxycarbonyl group, azo group, arylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyloxy group, aryloxycarbonyloxy group, sulfinyl group, sulfonyl group, silil group, carbamoyl group, heterocyclic group, nitro group, nitroso group, formyloxy group, isocyano group, cyanate group, isocyanate group, thiocyanate group, isothiocyanate group, N(alkyl).sub.2, N(aryl).sub.2, CH.dbd.CH(aryl), CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, or a functional group of molecular weight of less than about 100,000 daltons; CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N.sup.+ (CH.sub.3).sub.3 A, CH.dbd.N(alkyl).sub.2 A, or N(alkyl).sub.3.sup.+ A, where A is a charge balancing ion; CN, OH, CHO, COCH.sub.3, CO(alkyl), CO.sub.2 H, CO.sub.2 Na, CO.sub.2 K, CH(CH.sub.3)OH, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkyl, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkoxy, CH(CH.sub.3)O-aryl; (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkoxy, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkyl; where n is an integer from 0 to 8; C(X).sub.2 C(X).sub.3, where X is a halogen; CO.sub.2 R.sub.13, where R.sub.13 is selected from H, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a C1-C20 straight or branched chain alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OH, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.14, where R.sub.14 is selected from alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, a protecting group, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.15, (CHX).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.15, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.15, where X is a halogen and R.sub.15 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; CONH(R.sub.16), CONHNH(R.sub.16), CO(R.sub.16), CON(R.sub.16).sub.2, CON(R.sub.16)(R.sub.17) (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.16), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.16).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.16, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.16)(R.sub.17), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.16), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.16).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.16)(R.sub.17), (CX.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.16, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.16), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.16), (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.16), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.16), (CHX).sub.n CO(R.sub.16), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.16).sub.2, or (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.16)(R.sub.17), where X is a halogen and R.sub.16 and R.sub.17 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, NH.sub.2, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, an amino acid, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester, an amino acid amide, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.18), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.18), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.18), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNH(R.sub.18), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.18 ).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.18)(R.sub.19), or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.18)(R.sub.19)(R.sub.20).sup.+ A, where R.sub.18, R.sub.19 and R.sub.20 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, NH.sub.2, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, amino acids (provided --NH(R.sub.18) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, where R.sub.18, R.sub.19 and R.sub.20 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4, and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.21, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.21).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.21, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.21 where R.sub.21 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.22, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.22, where R.sub.22 is selected from a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.23, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.23, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.23).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.23)(R.sub.24), SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.23, or SO.sub.2 R.sub.23 , where R.sub.23 and R.sub.24 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and NHR.sub.23 can also be an amino acid, an amino acid salt, or an amino acid ester residue; Aryl or substituted aryl, which may bear one or more substituents with a molecular weight of less than or equal to about 100,000 daltons; and R.sub.1 -R.sub.2, R.sub.4 -R.sub.5, R.sub.7 -R.sub.8, R.sub.10 -R.sub.11, R.sub.2 -R.sub.3, R.sub.5 -R.sub.6, R.sub.8 -R.sub.9, and R.sub.11 -R.sub.12 may also possess the atoms necessary to form ring systems, either aromatic or not, which themselves may possess heteroatoms that may be charged or neutral or bear one or more functional groups of molecular weight equal to or less than about 100,000 daltons; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+, wherein associated with the co-ordinated gallium is a physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ion. 39. The method of any of claim 1 and 3, wherein the gallium porphyrin is a compound of the following formula IA: ##STR24## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can be the same or different and can be selected from: CO.sub.2 R.sub.3, where R.sub.3 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; CONH(R.sub.4), CONHNH(R.sub.4), CON(R.sub.4).sub.2, COR.sub.4, or CON(R.sub.4)(R.sub.5), where R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, NH.sub.2, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue; a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, an amino acid amide residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OH, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.6, where R.sub.6 is selected from a C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.7, (CHX).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.7, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.7, where X is a halogen and R.sub.7 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.8), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO(R.sub.8), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.8), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8)(R.sub.9), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.8), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8)(R.sub.9), (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.9), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.9), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.9).sub.2, or (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.8)(R.sub.9), where X is a halogen, and R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, NH.sub.2, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, heteroalkyl, haloalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, an amino acid, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester, an amino acid amide, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11)(R.sub.12).sup.+ A, where R.sub.10, R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, an amino acid or a salt, ester or amide thereof (provided --NH(R.sub.10) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, where R.sub.10, R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4 and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.13, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.13).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.13, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.13 where R.sub.13 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.14 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.14, where R.sub.14 is a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.15, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.15, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.15).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.15)(R.sub.16), SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.15, or SO.sub.2 R.sub.15, where R.sub.15 and R.sub.16 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, an amino acid residue, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, an amino acid amide residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; Aryl or substituted aryl, which may bear one or more substituents with a molecular weight of less than or equal to about 100,000 daltons; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+, wherein associated with the coordinated gallium is a physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ion. 40. The method of any of claims 1 and 3, wherein the gallium porphyrin is a compound of the following formula IA: ##STR25## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be the same or different and are selected from: CO.sub.2 R.sub.3 where R.sub.3 is selected from a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; CONH(R.sub.4), CONHNH(R.sub.4), CON(R.sub.4).sub.2, COR.sub.4, or CON(R.sub.4)(R.sub.5), where R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue; a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, an amino acid residue, an amino acid ester residue, an amino acid amide residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, with the proviso that R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are not pentetic acid (DTPA), polyfunctional carboxyl compounds or cyclen functional groups that are capable of binding metal ions with atomic numbers of 20-32, 37-39, 42-51 or 57-83; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OH or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.6 where R.sub.6 is alkyl or heteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.7, (CHX).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.7 or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.7 where X is a halogen and R.sub.7 is hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, an aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.8), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8)(R.sub.9), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.8) (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8).sub.2, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8)(R.sub.9) where X is a halogen, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.10).sub.2, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), where R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, a aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.12) where R.sub.12 is selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; with the proviso that R.sub.12 does not include a carboxyl group; (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.13) where R.sub.13 is selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, an aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue; a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.14, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.14).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.14, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.14 where R.sub.14 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue; a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.15 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.15 where R.sub.15 is a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.16, SO.sub.2 NH R.sub.16, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.16).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.16)(R.sub.17), SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.16, or SO.sub.2 R.sub.16, where R.sub.16 and R.sub.17 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue; a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, an amino acid residue, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, an amino acid amide residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+, wherein associated with the coordinated gallium is a physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ion; with the proviso that R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are not both CO.sub.2 H or both CO.sub.2 CH.sub.3. 41. The method of any of claims 1 and 3, wherein the gallium porphyrin compound of the following formula: ##STR26## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be the same or different and are selected from: CO.sub.2 R.sub.3 where R.sub.3 is a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; CONH(R.sub.4), CONHNH(R.sub.4), CON(R.sub.4).sub.2, COR.sub.4, or CON(R.sub.4)(R.sub.5), where R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue; a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, an amino acid residue, an amino acid ester residue, an amino acid amide residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OH or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.6 where R.sub.6 is alkyl or heteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.7 or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.7 where X is a halogen and R.sub.7 is hydrogen, a physiological acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, an aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.8), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8)(R.sub.9), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.8), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8).sub.2, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8)(R.sub.9), where X is a halogen and where R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue; a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; with the proviso that when n=2, R.sub.8 or R.sub.9 is not pentetic acid (DTPA), a polyfunctional carboxyl compound or a cyclen functional group that is capable of binding metal ions with atomic numbers of 20-32, 37-39, 42-51 or 57-83; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.10).sub.2, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), where R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, a aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.10).sub.2, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), where R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, a aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.12) where R.sub.12 is selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, an aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.13) where R.sub.13 is selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, an aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.14, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.14).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.14, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.14 where R.sub.14 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, an aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue; a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.15 where R.sub.15 is a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl or heteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.16, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.16, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.16).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.16)(R.sub.17), SO.sub.2 R.sub.16, or SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.16 where R.sub.16 and R.sub.17 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue; a mono, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, or a mono, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, an amino acid residue, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, an amino acid amide residue or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+, wherein associated with the coordinated gallium is a physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ion; with the proviso that R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are not both (CH.sub.2).sub.2 CO.sub.2 H or both (CH.sub.2).sub.2 CO.sub.2 CH.sub.3. 42. The method of any of claims 1 and 3, wherein the gallium porphyrin is a compound of the following formula 1B: ##STR27## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, CN, CO-alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, hydroxyhaloalkyl, ether haloalkyl, ester haloalkyl, a C1-C20 alkyl, or a halogen; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 can be the same or different and are selected from: CO.sub.2 R.sub.5, where R.sub.5 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, ethers or polyethers, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; CONH(R.sub.6), CONHNH(R.sub.6), CON(R.sub.6).sub.2, or CON(R.sub.6)(R.sub.7), where R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue; a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OH, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.8, where R.sub.8 is selected from a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, (CHX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.9 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10 )(R.sub.11), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, or (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), where X is a halogen, and R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, an amino acid or a salt, ester, or amide thereof (provided NH(R.sub.10) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13) or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13)(R.sub.14).sup.+ A, where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, an amino acid or a salt, ester or amide thereof (provided --NH(R.sub.12) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, or where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4, and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.15, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.15).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.15, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.15 where R.sub.15 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.16 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.16, where R.sub.16 is a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.17, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.17, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17)(R.sub.18), SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.17, or SO.sub.2 R.sub.17, where R.sub.17 and R.sub.18 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, an amino acid residue, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, an amino acid amide residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; Aryl or substituted aryl, which may bear one or more substituents with a molecular weight of less than or equal to about 100,000 daltons; All of the above which may bear one or more substituents selected from hydroxy groups, alkyl groups, carboxyl groups and their esters and amides, and sulfonic acid groups and their esters and amides; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+, wherein associated with the coordinated gallium is a physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ion. 43. The method of any of claims 1 and 3, wherein the gallium porphyrin is a compound of the following formula: ##STR28## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, CN, CO-alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, hydroxyhaloalkyl, ether haloalkyl, ester haloalkyl, a C1-C20 alkyl, or a halogen; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 can be the same or different and are selected from: CO.sub.2 R.sub.5, where R.sub.5 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, ethers or polyethers, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; CONH(R.sub.6), CONHNH(R.sub.6), CON(R.sub.6).sub.2, or CON(R.sub.6)(R.sub.7), where R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue; a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OH, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.8, where R.sub.8 is selected from a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, (CHX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.9 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, or (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), where X is a halogen, and R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, an amino acid or a salt, ester, or amide thereof (provided NH(R.sub.10) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13)(R.sub.14).sup.+ A, where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, an amino acid or a salt, ester or amide thereof (provided --NH(R.sub.12) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4, and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.15, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.15).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.15, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.15 where R.sub.15 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.16 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.16, where R.sub.16 is a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.17, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.17, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17)(R.sub.18), SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.17, or SO.sub.2 R.sub.17, where R.sub.17 and R.sub.18 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, an amino acid residue, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, an amino acid amide residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; Aryl or substituted aryl, which may bear one or more substituents with a molecular weight of less than or equal to about 100,000 daltons; All of the above which may bear one or more substituents selected from hydroxy groups, alkyl groups, carboxyl groups and its esters and amides and sulfonic acid groups and their esters and amides; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+, wherein associated with the coordinated gallium is a physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ion. 44. The method of any of claims 1 and 3, wherein the gallium porphyrin is a compound of the following formula: ##STR29## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, methyl, CN, CO-alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, hydroxyhaloalkyl, ether haloalkyl, ester haloalkyl, a C1-C20 alkyl, or a halogen; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be the same or different and are selected from: CO.sub.2 R.sub.5 where R.sub.5 is hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, ethers or polyethers, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; CONH(R.sub.6), CONHNH(R.sub.6), CON(R.sub.6).sub.2, or CON(R.sub.6)(R.sub.7), where R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue; a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH2).sub.n OH, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.8, where R.sub.8 is selected from a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, (CHX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.9 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, or (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), where X is a halogen, and R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, an amino acid or a salt, ester, or amide thereof (provided NH(R.sub.10) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13)(R.sub.14).sup.+ A, where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, an amino acid or a salt, ester or amide thereof (provided --NH(R.sub.12) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, or where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4, and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.15, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.15).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.15, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.15 where R.sub.15 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.16 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.16, where R.sub.16 is a a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.17, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.17, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17)(R.sub.18), SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.17, or SO.sub.2 R.sub.17, where R.sub.17 and R.sub.18 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, an amino acid residue, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, an amino acid amide residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; Aryl or substituted aryl, which may bear one or more substituents with a molecular weight of less than or equal to about 100,000 daltons; All of the above which may bear one or more substituents selected from hydroxy groups, alkyl groups, carboxyl groups and its esters and amides and sulfonic acid groups and their esters and amides; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+, wherein associated with the coordinated gallium is a physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ion; with the proviso that when R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 =H or Et and n=2, R.sub.9 cannot be H or CH.sub.3, and when R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 =C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 alkyl and n=2, one of R.sub.10 or R.sub.11 cannot be a functional group that possesses pentetic acid (DTPA), polyfunctional carboxyl compounds or cyclen functional groups that are capable of binding metal ions with atomic numbers of 20-32, 37-39, 42-51 or 57-83. 45. The method of any of claims 1 and 3, wherein the gallium porphyrin compound of the following formula IB: ##STR30## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, methyl, CN, CO-alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, hydroxyhaloalkyl, ether haloalkyl, ester haloalkyl, a C1-C20 alkyl, or a halogen; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be the same or different and are selected from: CO.sub.2 R.sub.5 where R.sub.5 is hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, ethers or polyethers, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; CONH(R.sub.6), CONHNH(R.sub.6), CON(R.sub.6).sub.2, or CON(R.sub.6)(R.sub.7), where R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue; a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OH, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.8, where R.sub.8 is selected from a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, (CHX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.9 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, or (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), where X is a halogen, and R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, an amino acid or a salt, ester, or amide thereof (provided NH(R.sub.10) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13)(R.sub.14).sub.4 A, where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, an amino acid or a salt, ester or amide thereof (provided --NH(R.sub.12) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, or where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4, and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.15, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.15).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.15, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.15 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.16 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.16, where R.sub.16 is a a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.17, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.17, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17)(R.sub.18), SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.17, or SO.sub.2 R.sub.17, where R.sub.17 and R.sub.18 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, an amino acid residue, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, an amino acid amide residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; All of the above which may bear one or more substituents selected from hydroxy groups, alkyl groups, carboxyl groups and its esters and amides and sulfonic acid groups and their esters and amides; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+, where associated with the coordinated gallium is a physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ion; with the proviso that when R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 =hydrogen, R.sub.5 cannot be CH.sub.3, and when R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 =C1-C7 alkyl and n=2, R.sub.10 or R.sub.11 cannot be a functional group that possesses pentetic acid (DTPA), polyfunctional carboxyl compounds or cyclen functional groups that are capable of binding metal ions with atomic numbers of 20-32, 37-39, 42-51 or 57-83. 46. The method of any of claims 2 and 3, wherein said gallium azaporphyrin is a compound of the following formula II: ##STR31## wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.11 can be the same or different and are selected from: hydrogen, halide, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, haloalkyl, heterohaloalkyl, cyclic alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, amide, ester, ether, polyether, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, haloalkoxy group, amino group, alkylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aryloxycarbonyl group, azo group, arylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyloxy group, aryloxycarbonyloxy group, sulfinyl group, sulfonyl group, silil group, carbamoyl group, heterocyclic group, nitro group, nitroso group, formyloxy group, isocyano group, cyanate group, isocyanate group, thiocyanate group, isothiocyanate group, N(alkyl).sub.2, N(aryl).sub.2, CH.dbd.CH(aryl), CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, or a functional group of molecular weight less than about 100,000 daltons; CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N.sup.+ (CH.sub.3).sub.3 A, CH.dbd.N(alkyl).sub.2 A, or N(alkyl).sub.3.sup.+ A, where A is a charge balancing ion, CN, OH, CHO, COCH.sub.3, CO(alkyl), CO.sub.2 H, CO.sub.2 Na, CO.sub.2 K, CH(CH.sub.3)OH, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkyl, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkoxy, CH(CH.sub.3)O-aryl; (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkoxy, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkyl, where n is an integer from 0 to 8; C(X).sub.2 C(X).sub.3, where X is a halogen; CO.sub.2 R.sub.12, where R.sub.12 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n Ohydrogen, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.13, where R.sub.13 is selected from alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a protecting group, a mono-, di- or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.14, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.14, or (CHX).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.14, where X is a halogen and R.sub.14 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; CONH(R.sub.15), CONHNH(R.sub.15), CO(R.sub.15), CON(R.sub.15).sub.2, CON(R.sub.15)(R.sub.16), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.15), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.15), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.15).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.15, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.15)(R.sub.16), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.15), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.15), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.15).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.15)(R.sub.16), (CX.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.15, (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.15), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.15), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.15).sub.2, (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.15)(R.sub.16), or (CHX).sub.n COR.sub.15, where X is a halogen and R.sub.15 and R.sub.16 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, an amino acid, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester, an amino acid amide, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.17), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.17), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.17), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNH(R.sub.17), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.17).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.17)(R.sub.18), or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.17)(R.sub.18)(R.sub.19).sup.+ A, where R.sub.17, R.sub.18 and R.sub.19 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, NH.sub.2, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, amino acids (provided --NH(R.sub.17) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, where R.sub.17, R.sub.18 and R.sub.19 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4, and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.20, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.20).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.20, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.20 where R.sub.20 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.21 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.21, where R.sub.21 is a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.22, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.22, SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.22, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.22).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.22)(R.sub.23), or SO.sub.2 R.sub.22, where R.sub.22 and R.sub.23 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and NHR.sub.22 can also be an amino acid, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, or an amino acid amide residue; Aryl or substituted aryl, which may bear one or more substituents with a molecular weight of less than or equal to about 100,000 daltons; R.sub.1 -R.sub.2, R.sub.3 -R.sub.4, R.sub.6 -R.sub.7, R.sub.9 -R.sub.10, R.sub.4 -R.sub.5, R.sub.5 -R.sub.6, R.sub.8 -R.sub.9, R.sub.9 -R.sub.10, R.sub.11 -R.sub.12 and R.sub.12 -R.sub.1 may also possess the atoms necessary to form ring systems, either aromatic or not, which themselves may possess heteroatoms that may be charged or neutral or bear one or more functional groups of molecular weight equal to or less than about 100,000 daltons; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+ where associated with the metal ion is a physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ion. 47. The method of any of claims 2 and 3, wherein the gallium azaporphyrin is a compound of the following formula: ##STR32## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.6 can be the same or different and are selected from: hydrogen, halide, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, haloalkyl, heterohaloalkyl, cyclic alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, amide, ester, ether, polyether, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, haloalkoxy group, amino group, alkylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aryloxycarbonyl group, azo group, arylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyloxy group, aryloxycarbonyloxy group, sulfinyl group, sulfonyl group, silil group, carbamoyl group, heterocyclic group, nitro group, nitroso group, formyloxy group, isocyano group, cyanate group, isocyanate group, thiocyanate group, isothiocyanate group, N(alkyl).sub.2, N(aryl).sub.2, CH.dbd.CH(aryl), CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N.sup.+ (CH.sub.3).sub.3 A, CH.dbd.N(alkyl).sub.2 A, or N(alkyl).sub.3.sup.+ A, where A is a charge balancing ion; CN, OH, CHO, COCH.sub.3, CO(alkyl), CO.sub.2 H, CO.sub.2 Na, CO.sub.2 K, CH(CH.sub.3)OH, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkyl, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkoxy, or CH(CH.sub.3)O-aryl; (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkoxy, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkyl, where n is an integer from 0 to 8; C(X).sub.2 C(X).sub.3, where X is a halogen; CO.sub.2 R.sub.7, where R.sub.7 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n Ohydrogen, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.8, where R.sub.8 is selected from alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a protecting group, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, (CHX).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.9 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; CONH(R.sub.10), CONHNH(R.sub.10), CO(R.sub.10), CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.10, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CX.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.10, (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), or (CHX).sub.n COR.sub.10, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, an amino acid, an amino acid ester, an amino acid amide, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13)(R.sub.14).sup.+ A, where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, NH.sub.2, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, amino acids (provided --NH(R.sub.13) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, or where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4, and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.15, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.15).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.15, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.15 where R.sub.15 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.16 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.16, where R.sub.16 is a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.17, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.17, SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.17, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17)(R.sub.18), or SO.sub.2 R.sub.17, where R.sub.17 and R.sub.18 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and NHR.sub.17 can also be an amino acid, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, or an amino acid amide residue; Aryl or substituted aryl, which may bear one or more substituents with a molecular weight of less than or equal to about 100,000 daltons; R.sub.1 -R.sub.2, R.sub.3 -R.sub.4 may also possess the atoms necessary to form ring systems, either aromatic or not, which themselves may possess heteroatoms that may be charged or neutral or bear one or more functional groups of molecular weight equal to or less than about 100,000 daltons; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+ where associated with the metal ion is the appropriate number of physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ions. 48. The method of any of claims 2 and 3, wherein the gallium azaporphyrin metalloazaporphyrin of the following formula: ##STR33## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.6 can be the same or different and are selected from: hydrogen, halide, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, haloalkyl, heterohaloalkyl, cyclic alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, amide, ester, ether, polyether, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, haloalkoxy group, amino group, alkylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aryloxycarbonyl group, azo group, arylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyloxy group, aryloxycarbonyloxy group, sulfinyl group, sulfonyl group, silil group, carbamoyl group, heterocyclic group, nitro group, nitroso group, formyloxy group, isocyano group, cyanate group, isocyanate group, thiocyanate group, isothiocyanate group, N(alkyl).sub.2, N(aryl).sub.2, CH.dbd.CH(aryl), CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N.sup.+ (CH.sub.3).sub.3 A, CH.dbd.N(alkyl).sub.2 A, or N(alkyl).sub.3.sup.+ A, where A is a charge balancing ion; CN, OH, CHO, COCH.sub.3, CO(alkyl), CO.sub.2 H, CO.sub.2 Na, CO.sub.2 K, CH(CH.sub.3)OH, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkyl, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkoxy, or CH(CH.sub.3)O-aryl; (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkoxy, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkyl, where n is an integer from 0 to 8; C(X).sub.2 C(X).sub.3, where X is a halogen; CO.sub.2 R.sub.7, where R.sub.7 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OH, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.8, where R.sub.8 is selected from alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a protecting group, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, (CHX).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, where X is a halogen, and and R.sub.9 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; CONH(R.sub.10), CONHNH(R.sub.10), CO(R.sub.10), CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.10, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CX.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.10, (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), or (CHX).sub.n COR.sub.10, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, an amino acid, an amino acid ester, an amino acid amide, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13)(R.sub.14).sup.+ A, where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, NH.sub.2, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, amino acids (provided --NH(R.sub.12) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, or where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4, and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.15, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.15).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.15, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.15 where R.sub.15 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.16 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.16, where R.sub.16 is a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.17, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.17, SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.17, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17) (R.sub.18) or SO.sub.2 R.sub.17, where R.sub.17 and R.sub.18 are the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and NHR.sub.17 can also be an amino acid, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, or an amino acid amide residue; Aryl or substituted aryl, which may bear one or more substituents with a molecular weight of less than or equal to about 100,000 daltons; R.sub.1 -R.sub.2, R.sub.3 -R.sub.4 may also possess the atoms necessary to form ring systems, either aromatic or not, which themselves may possess heteroatoms that may be charged or neutral or bear one or more functional groups of molecular weight equal to or less than about 100,000 daltons; M is Ga.sup.3+ wherein associated with the metal ion is the appropriate number of physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ions. 49. The method of any of claim 2 and 3, wherein the gallium azaporphyin is a compound of the following formula IIA: ##STR34## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.6 can be the same or different and are selected from: hydrogen, halide, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, haloalkyl, heterohaloalkyl, cyclic alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, amide, ester, ether, polyether, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, haloalkoxy group, amino group, alkylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aryloxycarbonyl group, azo group, arylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyloxy group, aryloxycarbonyloxy group, sulfinyl group, sulfonyl group, silil group, carbamoyl group, heterocyclic group, nitro group, nitroso group, formyloxy group, isocyano group, cyanate group, isocyanate group, thiocyanate group, isothiocyanate group, N(alkyl).sub.2, N(aryl).sub.2, CH.dbd.CH(aryl), CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N.sup.+ (CH.sub.3).sub.3 A, CH.dbd.N(alkyl).sub.2 A, or N(alkyl).sub.3.sup.+ A, where A is a charge balancing ion; CN, OH, CHO, COCH.sub.3, CO(alkyl), CO.sub.2 H, CO.sub.2 Na, CO.sub.2 K, CH(CH.sub.3)OH, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkyl, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkoxy, or CH(CH.sub.3)O-aryl; (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkoxy, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkyl, where n is an integer from 0 to 8; C(X).sub.2 C(X).sub.3, where X is a halogen; CO.sub.2 R.sub.7, where R.sub.7 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OH, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.8, where R.sub.8 is selected from alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a protecting group, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, (CHX).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.9 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; CONH(R.sub.10), CONHNH(R.sub.10), CO(R.sub.10), CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.10, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), (CX.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.10, (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.10), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11), or (CHX).sub.n COR.sub.10, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, an amino acid, an amino acid ester, an amino acid amide, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13)(R.sub.14).sup.+ A, where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, NH.sub.2, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, amino acids (provided --NH(R.sub.13) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, where R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4, and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.15, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.15).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.15, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.15 where R.sub.15 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.16 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.16, where R.sub.16 is a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.17, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.17, SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.17, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.17)(R.sub.18) or SO.sub.2 R.sub.17, where R.sub.17 and R.sub.18 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and NHR.sub.17 can also be an amino acid, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, or an amino acid amide; Aryl or substituted aryl, which may optionally bear one or more substituents with a molecular weight of less than or equal to about 100,000 daltons; and R.sub.1 -R.sub.2, R.sub.3 -R.sub.4 may also possess the atoms necessary to form ring systems, either aromatic or not, which themselves may possess heteroatoms that may be charged or neutral or bear one or more functional groups of molecular weight equal to or less than about 100,000 daltons; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+ where associated with the metal ion is the appropriate number of physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ions. 50. The method of any of claim 2 and 3, wherein the gallium azaporphyrin is a compound of formula III: ##STR35## wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.10 can be the same or different and are selected from: hydrogen, halide, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, haloalkyl, heterohaloalkyl, cyclic alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, amide, ester, ether, polyether, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, haloalkoxy group, amino group, alkylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aryloxycarbonyl group, azo group, arylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyloxy group, aryloxycarbonyloxy group, sulfinyl group, sulfonyl group, silil group, carbamoyl group, heterocyclic group, nitro group, nitroso group, formyloxy group, isocyano group, cyanate group, isocyanate group, thiocyanate group, isothiocyanate group, N(alkyl).sub.2, N(aryl).sub.2, CH.dbd.CH(aryl), CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, or a functional group having a molecular weight of about 100,000 daltons; CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N.sup.+ (CH.sub.3).sub.3 A, CH.dbd.N(alkyl).sub.2 A, or N(alkyl).sub.3.sup.+ A, where A is a charge balancing ion; CN, OH, CHO, COCH.sub.3, CO(alkyl), CO.sub.2 hydrogen, CO.sub.2 Na, CO.sub.2 K, CH(CH.sub.3)OH, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkyl, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkoxy, or CH(CH.sub.3)Oaryl; (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkoxy, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkyl, where n is an integer from 0 to 8; C(X).sub.2 C(X).sub.3, where X is a halogen; CO.sub.2 R.sub.11, where R.sub.11 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OH, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.12, where R.sub.12 is selected from alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a protecting group, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.13, (CHX).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.13, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.13, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.13 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; CONH(R.sub.14), CONHNH(R.sub.14), CO(R.sub.14), CON(R.sub.14).sub.2, CON(R.sub.14)(R.sub.15), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.14), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.14), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.14).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.14, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.14)(R.sub.15), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.14), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.14), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.14).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.14)(R.sub.15), (CX.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.14, (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.14), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.14), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.14).sub.2, (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.14)(R.sub.15), or (CHX).sub.n COR.sub.14, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.14 and R.sub.15 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, an amino acid, an amino acid ester, an amino acid amide, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.16), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.16), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.16), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNH(R.sub.16), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.16).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.16)(R.sub.17), or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.16)(R.sub.17)(R.sub.18).sup.+ A, where R.sub.16, R.sub.17 and R.sub.18 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, NH.sub.2, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, amino acids (provided --NH(R.sub.16) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, where R.sub.16, R.sub.17 and R.sub.18 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4, and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.19, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.19).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.19, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.19 where R.sub.19 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.20 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.20, where R.sub.20 is a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.21, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.21, SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.21, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.21).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.21) (R.sub.22), or SO.sub.2 R.sub.21, where R.sub.21 and R.sub.22 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and NHR.sub.21 can also be an amino acid, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, or an amino acid amide residue; Aryl or substituted aryl, which may bear one or more substituents with a molecular weight of less than or equal to about 100,000 daltons; R.sub.1 -R.sub.2, R.sub.3 -R.sub.4, R.sub.6 -R.sub.7, R.sub.8 -R.sub.9, R.sub.4 -R.sub.5, R.sub.5 -R.sub.6, R.sub.9 -R.sub.10, and R.sub.10 --R.sub.1 may also possess the atoms necessary to form ring systems, either aromatic or not, which themselves may possess heteroatoms that may be charged or neutral or bear one or more functional groups of molecular weight equal to or less than about 100,000 daltons; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+, where associated with the metal ion is the appropriate number of physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ions. 51. The method of any of claim 2 and 3, wherein the gallium azaporphyrin is a compound of formula IIIA: ##STR36## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 can be the same or different and are selected from: CO.sub.2 R.sub.5, where R.sub.5 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OH, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.6, where R.sub.6 is selected from alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, a protecting group, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.7, (CHX).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.7, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.7, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.7 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; CONH(R.sub.8), CONHNH(R.sub.8), CO(R.sub.8), CON(R.sub.8).sub.2, CON(R.sub.8)(R.sub.9), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.8), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.8), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.8, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8)(R.sub.9), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.8), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.8), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.8)(R.sub.9), (CX.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.8, (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.8), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.8), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.8).sub.2, (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.8)(R.sub.9), or (CHX).sub.n COR.sub.8, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, an amino acid, an amino acid ester, an amino acid amide, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNH(R.sub.10), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.10).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.10) (R.sub.11), or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.10)(R.sub.11)(R.sub.12).sup.+ A, where R.sub.10, R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, NH.sub.2, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, amino acids (provided --NH(R.sub.10) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, or where R.sub.10, R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4, and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.13, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.13).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.13, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.13, where R.sub.13 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.14 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.14, where R.sub.14 is a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.15, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.15, SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.15, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.15).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.15)(R.sub.16), or SO.sub.2 R.sub.15, where R.sub.15 and R.sub.16 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and NHR.sub.15 can also be an amino acid, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, or an amino acid amide residue; Aryl or substituted aryl, which may bear one or more substituents with a molecular weight of less than or equal to about 100,000 daltons; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+ wherein associated with the metal ion is the appropriate number of physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ions. 52. The method of any of claim 2 and 3, wherein the gallium azaporphyrin is a compound of formula IV: ##STR37## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.8 can be the same or different and are selected from: hydrogen, halide, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, haloalkyl, heterohaloalkyl, cyclic alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, amide, ester, ether, polyether, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, haloalkoxy group, amino group, alkylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aryloxycarbonyl group, azo group, arylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyloxy group, aryloxycarbonyloxy group, sulfinyl group, sulfonyl group, silil group, carbamoyl group, heterocyclic group, nitro group, nitroso group, formyloxy group, isocyano group, cyanate group, isocyanate group, thiocyanate group, isothiocyanate group, N(alkyl).sub.2, N(aryl).sub.2, CH.dbd.CH(aryl), CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N.sup.+ (CH.sub.3).sub.3 A, CH.dbd.N(alkyl).sub.2 A, or N(alkyl).sub.3.sup.+ A, where A is a charge balancing ion; CN, OH, CHO, COCH.sub.3, CO(alkyl), CO.sub.2 hydrogen, CO.sub.2 Na, CO.sub.2 K, CH(CH.sub.3)OH, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkyl, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkoxy, or CH(CH.sub.3)O-aryl; (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkoxy, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkyl, where n is an integer from 0 to 8; C(X).sub.2 C(X).sub.3, where X is a halogen; CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, where R.sub.9 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OH, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.10, where R.sub.10 is selected from alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a protecting group, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.11, (CHX).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.11, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.11, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.11 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; CONH(R.sub.12), CONHNH(R.sub.12), CO(R.sub.12), CON(R.sub.12).sub.2, CON(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.12).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.12, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.12), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.12), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.12).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), (CX.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.12, (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.12), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.12), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.12).sub.2, (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), or (CHX).sub.n COR.sub.12, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.12 and R.sub.13 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, an amino acid, an amino acid ester, an amino acid amide, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.14), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.14), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.14), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNH(R.sub.14), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.14).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.14)(R.sub.15), or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.14)(R.sub.15)(R.sub.16).sup.+ A, where R.sub.14, R.sub.15 and R.sub.16 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, NH.sub.2, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, amino acids (provided --NH(R.sub.14) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, where R.sub.14, R.sub.15 and R.sub.16 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4, and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.17, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.17).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.17, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.17 where R.sub.17 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.18 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.18, where R.sub.18 is a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.19, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.19, SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.19, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.19).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.19)(R.sub.20), or SO.sub.2 R.sub.19, where R.sub.19 and R.sub.20 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and NHR.sub.19 can also be an amino acid, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, or an amino acid amide residue; Aryl or substituted aryl, which may bear one or more substituents with a molecular weight of less than or equal to about 100,000 daltons; and A, B, C, and D can be the same or different and can be selected from N, CH, and CR.sub.20, where R.sub.20 is selected from a halogen, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, haloalkyl, heterohaloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyhaloalkyl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+, where associated with the metal ion is the appropriate number of physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ions. 53. The method of any of claim 2 and 3, wherein the gallium azaporphyrin is a compound of formula IV: ##STR38## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.8 can be the same or different and are selected from: hydrogen, halide, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, haloalkyl, heterohaloalkyl, cyclic alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, amide, ester, ether, polyether, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, haloalkoxy group, amino group, alkylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aryloxycarbonyl group, azo group, arylcarbonyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyloxy group, aryloxycarbonyloxy group, sulfinyl group, sulfonyl group, silil group, carbamoyl group, heterocyclic group, nitro group, nitroso group, formyloxy group, isocyano group, cyanate group, isocyanate group, thiocyanate group, isothiocyanate group, N(alkyl).sub.2, N(aryl).sub.2, CH.dbd.CH(aryl), CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.2 N.sup.+ (CH.sub.3).sub.3 A, CH.dbd.N(alkyl).sub.2 A, or N(alkyl).sub.3.sup.+ A, where A is a charge balancing ion; CN, OH, CHO, COCH.sub.3, CO(alkyl), CO.sub.2 H, CO.sub.2 Na, CO.sub.2 K, CH(CH.sub.3)OH, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkyl, CH(CH.sub.3)O-alkoxy, or CH(CH.sub.3)O-aryl; (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkoxy, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n O-alkyl, where n is an integer from 0 to 8; C(X).sub.2 C(X).sub.3, where X is a halogen; CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, where R.sub.9 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OH, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n OR.sub.10, where R.sub.10 is selected from alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a protecting group, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.11, (CHX).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.11, or (CX.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sub.11, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.11 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 1 and 4; CONH(R.sub.12), CONHNH(R.sub.12), CO(R.sub.12), CON(R.sub.12).sub.2, CON(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.12), (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.12).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.12, (CH.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONH(R.sub.12), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.12), (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.12).sub.2, (CX.sub.2).sub.n CON(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), (CX.sub.2).sub.n COR.sub.12, (CHX).sub.n CONH(R.sub.12), (CHX).sub.n CONHNH(R.sub.12), (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.12).sub.2, (CHX).sub.n CON(R.sub.12)(R.sub.13), or (CHX).sub.n COR.sub.12, where X is a halogen, and R.sub.12 and R.sub.13 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, an amino acid, an amino acid ester, an amino acid amide, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; S(R.sub.14), (CH.sub.2).sub.n S(R.sub.14), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NH(R.sub.14), (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNH(R.sub.14), (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.14).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.14)(R.sub.15), or (CH.sub.2).sub.n N(R.sub.14)(R.sub.15)(R.sub.16).sup.+ A, where R.sub.14, R.sub.15 and R.sub.16 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, NH.sub.2, straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, amino acids (provided --NH(R.sub.14) is part of the amino acid), a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, where R.sub.14, R.sub.15 and R.sub.16 together possess the atoms necessary to constitute an aromatic ring system, n is an integer between 0 and 4, and A is a physiologically acceptable counter ion; (CH.sub.2).sub.n OPO.sub.2 OR.sub.17, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO(OR.sub.17).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n PO.sub.2 R.sub.17, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n POR.sub.17 R.sub.17 is selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCOR.sub.18 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n NHNHCOR.sub.18, where R.sub.18 is a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and n is an integer between 0 and 4; SO.sub.3 R.sub.19, SO.sub.2 NHR.sub.19, SO.sub.2 NHNHR.sub.19, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.19).sub.2, SO.sub.2 N(R.sub.19 )(R.sub.20), or SO.sub.2 R.sub.19, where R.sub.19 and R.sub.20 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a physiologically acceptable counter ion, a straight or branched chain C1-C20 alkyl, haloalkyl, heteroalkyl, haloheteroalkyl, heterocycle, aryl, heteroaryl, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyalkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyhydroxyaryl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheralkyl residue, a mono-, di-, or polyetheraryl residue, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons, and NHR.sub.19 can also be an amino acid, an amino acid salt, an amino acid ester residue, or an amino acid amide residue; Aryl or substituted aryl, which may bear one or more substituents with a molecular weight of less than or equal to about 100,000 daltons; A, B, C, and D can be the same or different and can be selected from N, CH, and CR.sub.20, where R.sub.20 is selected from a halogen, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, haloalkyl, heterohaloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyhaloalkyl, or a functional group of less than about 100,000 daltons; and wherein M is Ga.sup.3+, wherein associated with the metal ion is the appropriate number of physiologically acceptable charge balancing counter ions. 54. The method of claim 24, wherein said wavelength ranges between about 350 to about 460 nm. 55. The method of claim 24, wherein said wavelength ranges between about 500 to 600 nm. 56. The method of claim 54, wherein said energy source is visible or UV light. 57. The method of claim 2, wherein said metallated azaporphyrin is formulated by encapsulation in carriers selected from water, deionized water, phosphate buffered saline, aqueous ethanol, glucose, amino acids, vegetable oils, lipsomes, immunoliposomes, cyclodextrans, microspheres, nanoparticles, lipoproteins, micellular systems or combinations thereof. 58. The method of claim 56, wherein said formulation is selected from slow release, a prodrug, tablets, pills, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, granules or capsules.

Details for Patent 6,827,926

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Recordati Rare Diseases, Inc.	PANHEMATIN	hemin for injection	For Injection	101246	07/20/1983		2021-05-31