Nanoparticles of -Vinylpyrrolidone Amphiphilic Copolymers and Pheophorbide as Promising Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy: Design, Properties and In Vitro Phototoxic Activity.

A series of nanoparticles (NPs) with a hydrodynamic radius from 20 to 100 nm in PBS was developed over the solubilization of hydrophobic dye methyl pheophorbide (chlorin e derivative) by amphiphilic copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone with (di)methacrylates. Photophysical properties and biological activity of the NPs aqueous solution were studied. It was found that the dye encapsulated in the copolymers is in an aggregated state.