Title:Current Phthalocyanines Delivery Systems in Photodynamic Therapy: An Updated Review
Volume: 28
Issue: 26
Author(s): Mariana Miretti*, César German Prucca, Tomas Cristian Tempesti and Maria Teresa Baumgartner*
Affiliation:
- INFIQC (CONICET), Departamento de Quimica Organica, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Cordoba,Argentina
- INFIQC (CONICET), Departamento de Quimica Organica, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Cordoba,Argentina
Keywords:
Photodynamic therapy, photosensitizers, phthalocyanines, drug delivery systems, liposomes, polymericmicelles, polymeric nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles.
Abstract: Photodynamic therapy has emerged as an effective therapeutic alternative to
treat oncological, cardiovascular, dermatological, infectious, and ophthalmic diseases.
Photodynamic therapy combines the action of a photosensitizer with light in the presence
of oxygen to generate reactive oxygen species, capable of reacting with cellular components,
resulting in injury and, consequently, inducing cellular death. Phthalocyanines are
considered good photosensitizers, although most of them are lipophilic, difficulting their
administration for clinical use. A strategy to overcome the lack of solubility of phthalocyanines
in aqueous media is to incorporate them into different delivery systems. The present
review aimed to summarize the current status of the main drug delivery systems
used for Zn and Al phthalocyanines and their effect in photodynamic therapy, reported in
the last five years. Liposomes, polymeric micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, and goldnanoparticles
constituted some of the most used carriers and were discussed in this review.
The latest studies reported strongly suggest that the application of nanotechnologies
as delivery systems allows an increase in photodynamic therapy efficacy and reduces
side-effects associated with the phthalocyanine administration, which represents a
hope for cancer treatments.
