Phthalocyanines as medicinal photosensitizers: Developments in the last five years

Abstract

Owing to their high extinction coefficients, long absorption wavelengths, and modification tunable photophysical and photochemical properties, phthalocyanines (Pcs) have been widely used as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Advances made in the past five years on the development of Pcs as medicinal photosensitizers are reviewed and the main design considerations for medicinal applications of these substances are discussed. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.