A tumor-pH-responsive phthalocyanine as activatable type I photosensitizer for improved photodynamic immunotherapy.

The development of a simple drug formulation capable of achieving both activatable type I photoreaction and tumor-responsive release of immunomodulator is crucial for advancing photodynamic immunotherapy (PDIT). Herein, we present a nanostructured photosensitizer (NP5) that is activated by the acidic tumor microenvironment to produce type I reactive oxygen species (ROS) under light irradiation and release the immunomodulator demethylcantharidin (DMC) for PDIT. The NP5 is formed by self-assembly of a versatile phthalocyanine molecule which is composed of DMC and phthalocyanine linked via a pH-responsive amide bond.

Thermosensitive Liposomal Nanoplatform Based on Metal-Free Phthalocyanine with Copper(II)-Regulated Photoactivities.

This work reports the development of a multifunctional thermosensitive liposomal nanoplatform (PcS@Lip-FA) based on a metal-free phthalocyanine modified with tetra-sulfonates (PcPS), which exhibited photodynamic and photothermal activities simultaneously. Upon irradiation with a near infrared laser, thermosensitive PcS@Lip-FA could release PcS as a result of the local hyperthermia of PcS. Interestingly, PcS could easily chelate with Cu, leading to the enhancement of photothermal activity and decrease of photodynamic activity.