Antitumor effect of nanophotothermolysis mediated by zinc phthalocyanine particles.

Nanophotothermolysis (NPhT) effect is considered to be an approach for the development of highly selective modalities for anticancer treatment. Herein, we evaluated an antitumor efficacy of NPhT with intravenously injected zinc phthalocyanine particles (ZnPcPs) in murine subcutaneous syngeneic tumor models. In S37 sarcoma-bearing mice a biodistribution of ZnPcPs was studied and the high antitumor efficacy of ZnPcPs-mediated NPhT was shown, including a response of metastatic lesions.

Study of photoinduced antitumor activity of phthalocyanin-based nanostructures as pro-photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy of malignant tumors in vivo.

Nanoparticles of aluminum and zinc phthalocyanin and metal-free phthalocyanin (AlPc, ZnPc, and H2Pc), whose molecular forms are photosensitizers, can serve as effective "prophotosensitizers" in photodynamic therapy for malignant tumors. Transition (stimulation) of photo-inert nanoparticles into a photoactive photosensitizer is realized locally in the tumor node by its exposure to potent laser pulses. Systemic injection of AlPc, ZnPc, and H2Pc nanoparticles has not led to accumulation of their photoactive form in the skin, which can lead to the development of skin phototoxicity.