Pharmaceutical development, composition and quantitative analysis of phthalocyanine as the photosensitizer for cancer photodynamic therapy

• Mechanisms of action of phthalocyanines (Pcs) used for photodynamic therapy.
• Pcs pharmaceutical development to improve their drugability & cellular localization.
• Quantitative methods for analyzing Pcs.
• Current status of the Pcs under clinical investigation.

Phthalocyanine (Pc) and its related derivatives are a class of functional materials that are easily activated by the light at a special wavelength. As such photosensitizer, Pc has been applied to photodynamic therapy (PDT), in addition to its broad applications in many fields, for both malignant and benign diseases. One of our long-term research focuses is to develop Pc for cancer therapy. Herein we briefly review mechanisms of action of Pc used for photodynamic therapy, its pharmaceutical development and molecular modification to enhance its drugability and improve its intracellular localization. We also describe the current status of the Pc derivatives under clinical investigation, and analyze the methods used for quantitative analysis of those Pc derivatives.

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