The effects of dendrimer size and central metal ions on photosensitizing properties of dendrimer porphyrins.

ABSTRACT

A series of dendrimer porphyrins (G(n)DP(M); n = generation of dendrimer, n = 1-3; M = coordination metal, M = freebase, Zn, Pt) were prepared and their photosensitizing properties were compared. All G(n)DP(M) exhibited sharp absorption in organic solvents. However, the Soret absorptions of G(n)DP(M)(CO(2)H) in 10 mM phosphate buffer solution (pH = 7.4) are broader than those of G(n)DP(M) in organic solvents, indicating inhomogeneous microenvironments of the focal porphyrin derivatives. All G(3)DP(M)(CO(2)H) successfully formed globular polyion complex micelles that were uniform in size. Under dark conditions, all G(n)DP(M)(CO(2)H) showed negligible cytotoxicity. However, all samples exhibited concentration-dependent photocytotoxicity under light irradiation. In vitro photocytotoxicity as well as singlet oxygen generation revealed that G(3)DP(Zn)(CO(2)H) is the best dendritic PS of the three different dendrimer porphyrin species.