| This thesis reports the synthesis, spectroscopic and photophysical properties, and in vitro photodynamic activities of several series of phthalocyanine-containing polymers including poly(norbornene), poly(anhydride), and poly(ϵ-caprolactone).; Chapter 1 gives a general overview of phthalocyanines including their synthesis and applications. Special emphasis has been placed on hydrophilic and non-aggregated phthalocyanines and their use in photodynamic therapy. In addition, different classes of phthalocyanine-containing polymers will also be mentioned.; Chapter 2 discusses the synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties of a series of poly(norbornene)s with zinc(II) phthalocyanine and amino acid moieties. The copolymers were prepared by copolymerization of 2-(2-norbornenylmethoxy)phthalocyaninatozinc(II) with 5-norbornenes substituted with phenylalanine and tyrosine. As shown by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, phthalocyanines in this series of polymer exhibit a rather strong aggregation tendency.; Chapter 3 presents the synthesis, characterization, photophysical properties, and in vitro photodynamic activities of a related series of amino acid- and sugar-containing poly(norbornene)s connected axially to a silicon(IV) phthalocyanine core. These polymers exhibit a good solubility in common organic solvents. Due to the axial polymeric substituents, these compounds are free from aggregation and give a high singlet oxygen quantum yield. These polymers in Cremophor EL emulsions also show a high photodynamic activity against HepG2 cells, in particular the polymer with protected galactose moieties.; Chapter 4 reports a series of silicon(IV) phthalocyanines substituted with two poly(sebacic anhydride) chains as the axial ligands. The polymers form nanoparticles in water in the presence of surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS). The degradation of the nanoparticles was carried out in alkaline media and was followed by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, and laser light scattering. It was found that phthalocyanines are gradually released during degradation.; Chapter 5 describes the preparation, characterization, photophysical properties, and in vitro photodynamic activities of homo- and co-polymers of ϵ-caprolactone and/or 5-ethylene ketyl ϵ-caprolactone connected axially to silicon(IV) phthalocyanine. Again, these polymers are non-aggregated in solution as shown by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Enzymatic degradation of the nanoparticles formed from these polymers with Lipase PS leads to a graduate release of phthalocyanines. In addition, these polymers show high in vitro photodynamic activities toward HepG2 cells, showing that this novel polymer-based colloidal system is potentially useful for the delivery and release of photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy.; In addition to polymeric phthalocyanines, a series of symmetrical and unsymmetrical galactose-containing silicon(IV) phthalocyanines has also been prepared. Chapter 6 describes the preparation and properties of these novel compounds, including their in vitro photoactivity toward HepG2 cells.; Appendix A gives characterizing data for all the new compounds. Crystallographic details for the X-ray structure determinations are listed in Appendix B. |
