Study of novel phthalocyanine and azaphthalocyanine photosensitizers for the photodynamic therapy of cancer

Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of biochemical sciences Candidate Mgr. Miloslav Macháček Supervisor doc. PharmDr. Tomáš Šimůnek, Ph.D. Title of Doctoral Thesis Study of novel phthalocyanine and azaphthalocyanine photosensitizers for the photodynamic therapy of cancer. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer is non-invasive treatment modality for solid tumour treatment using three basic components - molecular oxygen, light and photosensitizer (PS). These elements are essentially non-toxic on their own, but in the combination they induce reactive oxygen species (ROS; singlet oxygen mainly) production, causing damage to cellular components and subsequent cell death. Type of cell demise is dependent mainly on the type of PS, length of irradiation and subcellular localization of the drug. Singlet oxygen is highly reactive and is capable of limited diffusion in biological environment. Apart from direct cytotoxic effect, vascular shutdown (oxygen and nutrition deprivation) and activation of immune system are involved in tumour eradication. Combination of effective compound with delivery system, conjugation with targeting substances or synthesis of highly effective non-aggregating water soluble compounds are the main pathways in design of modern PSs. In our..