Skin-photosensitizing properties of Zn(II)-2(3), 9(10), 16(17), 23(24)-tetrakis-(4-oxy-N-methylpiperidinyl) phthalocyanine topically administered to mice

A Zn-phthalocyanine derivative bearing four 4-oxy-N-methyl-piperidinyl peripheral substituents has been formulated in an azone-containing gel for topical administration and its potential as a photodynamic therapy agent has been investigated. The phthalocyanine displays an intense absorbance in the 680 nm range and shows a high photosensitizing activity toward a model biological substrate (N-acetyl-L-tryptophanamide). Upon administration of 20 microg cm(-2) onto the dorsal skin of Balb/c mice, maximal phthalocyanine concentrations (ca. 64.2 ng mg(-1) of skin) are reached at 1 h after the deposition. The photosensitizer appears to be localized in the epidermal layers, since (a) no detectable amounts of phthalocyanine are recovered from the mouse blood and liver; and (b) upon photoactivation with a diode laser at 675 nm, only the epidermis is heavily damaged, as shown by histological and ultrastructural analysis. The photodamage is largely of inflammatory nature and an essentially complete healing of the damaged skin is observed at 72 h after the end of the phototreatment. The minimal phototoxic dose for 20 microg cm(-2) photosensitizer and 675 nm irradiation is found to be (150 mW cm(-2)-120 J cm(-2)) or (180 mW cm(-2)-100 J cm(-2)).