title: An acid-cleavable phthalocyanine tetramer as an activatable photosensitiser for photodynamic therapy.
abstract: An acetal-linked self-quenched zinc(ii) phthalocyanine tetramer has been prepared. In an acidic environment in phosphate buffered saline or inside tumour cells, the phthalocyanine units of the tetramer are separated thereby restoring the fluorescence emission and singlet oxygen production. This response enables this compound to serve as a promising activatable photosensitiser for photodynamic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China. dkpn@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Sun Y S
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. gigi.lo@cityu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Pui-Chi
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China. dkpn@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Dennis K P
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D054833:Isoindoles; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D026082:Singlet Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007211:Indoles; D054833:Isoindoles; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; D015032:Zinc; C013647:phthalocyanine