Photodynamic Therapy: Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines as Photosensitizers

Leonardo Marmo Moreira; Fábio Vieira dos Santos; Juliana Pereira Lyon; Maira Maftoum-Costa; Cristina Pacheco-Soares; Newton Soares da Silva

doi:10.1071/CH08145

REVIEW

Photodynamic Therapy: Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines as Photosensitizers

Leonardo Marmo Moreira ^A ^B , Fábio Vieira dos Santos ^A , Juliana Pereira Lyon ^A , Maira Maftoum-Costa ^A , Cristina Pacheco-Soares ^A and Newton Soares da Silva ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911 – Urbanova 12244-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.

^B Corresponding author. Email: leonardomarmo@univap.br

Leonardo Marmo Moreira is a PhD Researcher at the Institute of Research and Development of the Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, São Paulo, Brazil. He has experience in biophysics and bioinorganic chemistry, focussing on haemoglobins and macrocycles, in particular porphyrin and metalloporphyrin compounds.

Fábio Vieira dos Santos heads the Laboratory of Mutagenesis of the Institute of Research and Development of the Universidade do Vale do Paraíba. His research is based on the identification of compounds with potential to cause DNA damage and cellular death. The focus of his work is centred on compounds extracted from medicinal plants as well as environmental contaminants.

Juliana Pereira Lyon is a PhD Researcher at the Institute of Research and Development of the Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, São Paulo, Brazil. She has experience in microbiology, with emphasis in fungal death and virulence.

Maira Maftoum-Costa is a post graduate student at the Laboratory of Tissue and Cell Biology. She has experience in the area of general biology, with an emphasis in cellular biology, focussing mainly in the following topics: cell culture, photodynamic therapy, transmission electron microscopy, and cellular death.

Cristina Pacheco-Soares is a researcher at the Laboratory of Tissue and Cell Biology in the Institute of Research and Development of the Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (São Paulo, Brazil). She is the Chair in the discipline of cell biology. She has experience in the following subjects: cell culture, photodynamic therapy, and low-level laser therapy.

Newton Soares da Silva is currently a researcher at the Laboratory of Tissue and Cell Biology in the Institute of Research and Development of the Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (São Paulo, Brazil). He has experience in morphology, focussing on cytology and cellular biology, in particular in the following subjects: laser, cell culture, optic fluorescence microscopy, photodynamic therapy, and transmission electron microscopy.

Australian Journal of Chemistry 61(10) 741-754 https://doi.org/10.1071/CH08145
Submitted: 10 April 2008 Accepted: 24 July 2008 Published: 6 October 2008

Abstract

The present work is focussed on the principles of photodynamic therapy (PDT), emphasizing the photochemical mechanisms of reactive oxygen species formation and the consequent biochemical processes generated by the action of reactive oxygen species on various biological macromolecules and organelles. This paper also presents some of the most used photosensitizers, including Photofrin, and the new prototypes of photosensitizers, analysing their physicochemical and spectroscopic properties. At this point, the review discusses the therapeutic window of absorption of specific wavelengths involving first- and second-generation photosensitizers, as well as the principal light sources used in PDT. Additionally, the aggregation process, which consists in a phenomenon common to several photosensitizers, is studied. J-aggregates and H-aggregates are discussed, along with their spectroscopic effects. Most photosensitizers have a significant hydrophobic character; thus, the study of the types of aggregation in aqueous solvent is very relevant. Important aspects of the coordination chemistry of metalloporphyrins and metallophthalocyanines used as photosensitizers are also discussed. The state-of-the-art in PDT is evaluated, discussing recent articles in this area. Furthermore, macrocyclic photosensitizers, such as porphyrins and phthalocyanines, are specifically described. The present review is an important contribution, because PDT is one of the most auspicious advances in the therapy against cancer and other non-malignant diseases.

References

Photodynamic Therapy: Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines as Photosensitizers

Abstract

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