New amphiphilic silicon(IV) phthalocyanines as efficient photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy: synthesis, photophysical properties, and in vitro photodynamic activities

A novel series of silicon(IV) phthalocyanines substituted axially with one or two 1,3-bis(dimethylamino)-2-propoxy group(s) have been prepared by ligand substitution and alkoxy exchange reactions. Two dicationic and tetracationic phthalocyanines have also been prepared by methylation of two of these compounds. The nonionic phthalocyanines are essentially nonaggregated in common organic solvents and show a weak fluorescence emission, while the methylated derivatives are also nonaggregated, even in aqueous media, and exhibit a strong fluorescence emission. These new phthalocyanines, in particular the unsymmetrical and amphiphilic analogues, are highly potent against HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cells and J774 mouse macrophage cells with IC50 values down to 0.02 microM. The photodynamic activities are related to the cellular uptake and the efficiency to generate singlet oxygen. A higher positive charge at the phthalocyanine hinders the uptake, reflected by the lower intracellular fluorescence intensity. Fluorescence microscopic studies have also revealed that the unsymmetrical phthalocyanine SiPcC3H5(NMe2)2O](OMe) (4) has a high and selective affinity to the mitochondria of HepG2 cells.