Highly substituted phthalocyanine derivatives as potential photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy of tumors

An octakis-decyl-substituted Zn(II)-phthalocyanine (ZnODPc) was prepared by chemical synthesis and was shown to possess favorable photophysical properties to act as a photodynamic agent. Intravenous injection of ZnODPc incorporated into Cremophor emulsions (1.2 or 2.4 mg/kg) to Balb/c mice bearing a MS-2 fibrosarcoma resulted in an efficient and selective accumulation of the phthalocyanine in the tumor. Illumination of the ZnODPc-loaded neoplastic lesion at 24 h after injection caused tumor regression as a result of both intracellular and intravascular damage.