Zinc phthalocyanines-mediated photodynamic therapy induces cell death in adenocarcinoma cells

A panel of eight Zn-phthalocyanines (Zn-Pcs) (1)-(8), differently substituted on the benzo units, was synthesized either by direct cyclic-tetramerization of substituted phthalonitriles (compounds I and 2), or leading from the easily available tetrasulphonyl phthalocyanine to yield the sulfonamido derivatives 3 and 4, or else via the chloromethylation of precedent Zn-Pc followed by reaction with nucleophiles affording the dicationic Zn-Pcs (5) and (6) or the neutral Zn-Pcs (7) and (8). The phototoxicity of these new compounds was evaluated in vitro on human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HCT116), and their effect compared with those induced by porfimer sodium. The results are reported as IC50 values, following exposure of the cells to different Zn-Pcs concentration and irradiation with a 500 W tungsten/halogen white lamp. The cationic Zn-Pe (5) and (6) together with the Zn-Pc (7), featuring 12 methoxy groups, were found good or fairly good photosensitizers while the more lipophilic Zn-Pcs (1)-(4) and (8) were found devoid of activity. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.