Preparation of porphyrin and phthalocyanine conjugates for biomedical applications

The aim of this review is to offer a succinct overview of the main synthetic techniques used in the preparation of conjugates containing porphyrins, including chlorins and bacteriochlorins and phthalocyanines for biomedical applications and photodynamic therapy (PDT). To illustrate the conjugation techniques representative examples from the literature will be presented.

A Janus-Type Phthalocyanine for the Assembly of Photoactive DNA Origami Coatings

Design and synthesis of novel photosensitizer architectures is a key step toward new multifunctional molecular materials. Photoactive Janus-type molecules provide interesting building blocks for such systems by presenting two well-defined chemical functionalities that can be utilized orthogonally. Herein a multifunctional phthalocyanine is reported, bearing a bulky and positively charged moiety that hinders their aggregation while providing the ability to adhere on DNA origami nanostructures via reversible electrostatic interactions. On the other hand, triethylene glycol moieties render a water-soluble and chemically inert corona that can stabilize the structures. This approach provides insight into the molecular design and synthesis of Janus-type sensitizers that can be combined with biomolecules, rendering optically active biohybrids.