Polymeric nanocapsules and nanospheres for encapsulation and long sustained release of hydrophobic cyanine-type photosensitizer

► Colloidally stable polymeric nanocarriers for the IR-780 photosensitizer were obtained by self-assembly of precipitated polymer chains. ► The in vitro release profiles of IR-780 from freshly prepared nanocarriers and from the ones freeze dried were received spectrophotometrically. ► Photobleaching and ROS measurements, of cyanine-dye, both as native and encapsulated in obtained nanocarriers, were successfully performed.