Water Soluble Cu(II) and Ni(II) Phthalocyanine: Syntheses and in Vitro Synergistic Anticancer Activities of Photodynamic Therapy and Chemotherapy Effects

Water-soluble Cu(II) phthalocyanine 6 and Ni(II) phthalocyanine 7 were successfully synthesized starting from 1,2-dicynobenzen derivative. The photophysical and photochemical properties of these phthalocyanines show that they are not only very stable towards either heat or light, but also could yield singlet oxygen moderately. In vitro cell study demonstrates that both 6 and 7 could inhibit the growth of cancer cells in dark and also exhibit photodynamic therapy effect upon exposure to red light. These results show that these compounds have synergistic anticancer activities of photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy effects.