Disaggregation of Magnesium Octa[(4'-Benzo-15-Crown-5)Oxy]Phthalocyaninate in Aqueous Micellar Solutions of Alkyltriphenylphosphonium Bromide

Abstract

The behavior of magnesium octa[(4'-benzo-15-crown-5)oxy]phthalocyaninate (Mgcr₈Pc) in aqueous micellar solutions of alkyltriphenylphosphonium bromides (C_nTPPBs), where n = 8, 12, 14, and 16, has been studied by means of electronic absorption spectroscopy and measurements of fluorescence photophysical characteristics. Intense bands of absorption (λ_max = 683 nm) and fluorescence (λ_max = 694 nm) of Mgcr₈Pc in C_nTPPB micellar solutions are characterized by monoexponential decay of intensity (lifetime of 5.98–6.29 ns) and indicate that magnesium phthalocyaninate has the monomeric form. The disaggregation of Mgcr₈Pc in the presence of C_nTPPBs provides an opportunity to use aqueous micellar solutions containing this metallophthalocyane in photodynamic therapy, because it is the monomeric form of Mgcr₈Pc that generates singlet oxygen molecules, which kill tumor cells.