Tetra vs. octa-How it affects the photophysical, photochemical, physicochemical and biological properties of mercaptophenol-substituted Zn phthalocyanines

Abstract

Zn phthalocyanines tetra- and octa- substituted in peripheral positions by mercaptophenol moieties were prepared. Photophysical, photochemical, physicochemical and biological properties relevant from a photodynamic therapy point of view have been determined, showing that the tetra-substituted derivatives have better potential, confirmed by in vitro tests performed on MCF-7 cells that induced significant cell death without showing dark toxicity.