PHOTOSENSITIZERS OF THE PORPHYRIN AND PHTHALOCYANINE SERIES FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Tumour phototherapy involves the preferential destruction of tumour ce lls by a combination of photosensitizer, light, and oxygen (photodynam ic therapy). The origins of this topic are considered, as are mechanis tic aspects. The review then concentrates on current efforts to discov er photosensitizers which are more potent and more selective than the first generation materials (Haematoporphyrin Derivative and its commer cial variants). Design features are summarized, and recent work on sen sitizers of the porphyrin, chlorin, phthalocyanine, naphthalocyanine, porphycene, and texaphyrin classes are discussed in relation to our ow n work on m-THPC (Temoporfin).