PHOTOSENSITIZERS OF THE PORPHYRIN AND PHTHALOCYANINE SERIES FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Tumour phototherapy involves the preferential destruction of tumour cells by a combination of photosensitizer, light, and oxygen (photodynamic therapy). The origins of this topic are considered, as are mechanistic aspects. The review then concentrates on current efforts to discover photosensitizers which are more potent and more selective than the first generation materials (Haematoporphyrin Derivative and its commercial variants). Design features are summarized, and recent work on sensitizers of the porphyrin, chlorin, phthalocyanine, naphthalocyanine, porphycene, and texaphyrin classes are discussed in relation to our own work on m-THPC (Temoporfin).