Tritolylporphyrin dimer as a new potent hydrophobic sensitizer for photodynamic therapy of melanoma

We report the synthesis, photochemical and photophysical properties and pre liminary studies on biological effect of a new tritolylporphyrin dimer (T-D ). Absorption and emission properties of T-D suggest its possible use in ph otodynamic therapy. T-D is capable of singlet oxygen production with 0.8 qu antum yield. It also has a high photostability. The photodynamic properties of the dimer were examined following the growth of SKMEL 188 (human melano ma) cells irradiated with red light (cut off < 630 nm). The surviving fract ion of the cells decreased about 3-fold (vs. non-irradiated cells) for an 8 1 J/cm(2) dose. Our results suggest that tritolylporphyrine dimer T-D may b e an interesting hydrophobic sensitizer for photodynamic therapy.