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Photophysics of Silicon Phthalocyanines in Aqueous Media
Author(s) -
Doane Tennyson L.,
Chuang ChiHung,
Chomas Andrew,
Burda Clemens
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201200962
Subject(s) - photodynamic therapy , singlet oxygen , aqueous solution , photochemistry , phthalocyanine , aqueous medium , chemistry , reagent , in vivo , silicon , photosensitizer , combinatorial chemistry , nanotechnology , materials science , organic chemistry , oxygen , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Phthalocyanines have been used as photodynamic therapy (PDT) agents because of their uniquely favorable optical properties and high photostability. They have been shown to be highly successful for the treatment of cancer through efficient singlet‐oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) production. However, due to their hydrophobic properties, the considerations of solubility and cellular location have made understanding their photophysics in vitro and in vivo difficult. Indeed, many quantitative assessments of PDT reagents are undertaken in purely organic solvents, presenting challenges for interpreting observations during practical application in vivo. With steady‐state and time‐resolved laser spectroscopy, we show that for axial ligated silicon phthalocyanines in aqueous media, both the water:lipophile ratio and the pH have drastic effects on their photophysics, and ultimately dictate their functionality as PDT drugs. We suggest that considering the presented photophysics for PDT drugs in aqueous solutions leads to guidelines for a next generation of even more potent PDT agents.