Comparison of two strategies for conferring water solubility to a zinc phthalocyanine substituted with 1,2-diethylamino

• Two strategies for conferring Pc-polyamine water solubility were compared.
• Both the two derivatives can improve the water solubility of Pc-polyamine.
• Hydrochloride derivative has simple prepare process.
• Hydrochloride derivative has high photochemical property.
• Hydrochloride derivative has high in vitro anticancer activity.

Polyamines are naturally occurring compounds that play important roles in multiple cell processes. In most cases, phthalocyanine-polyamine (Pc-polyamine) conjugates have good anticancer activity. However, low solubility in water limits their application in photodynamic therapy (PDT). The common method to solve this problem is quaternizing the nitrogen atoms to obtain cationic derivatives. An alternative strategy by preparing hydrochloride is easily neglected. In this paper, a Pc-polyamine conjugate substituted with 1,2-diethylamino (ZnPc1) was conferred water solubility by two different strategies, which are preparing hydrochloride (ZnPc2) and quaternizing the nitrogen atoms (ZnPc3). The synthetic methods and properties of the two derivatives were compared and discussed. Results indicated that both ZnPc2 and ZnPc3 possessed good solubility in water. However, strategy of preparing hydrochloride is much easier than quaternization process and the singlet oxygen generation ability, the photostability and anticancer activity of ZnPc2 in vitro were also superior to the ZnPc3.

Two strategies were used for conferring water solubility to a Pc-polyamine conjugate substituted with aryl 1,2-diethylamino; and the synthetic methods and properties of the two derivates were compared and discussed.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide