Current developments in using meso-(Tetra)substituted porphyrins for PDT

Abstract

The goal of this chapter is to describe recent advances in the development and use of meso-tetrasubstituted porphyrins in photodynamic therapy (PDT). The focus is on analogues of 5,10,15,20- tetrakis(3-hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (m-THPC) and related second and third generation photosensitizers (PSs) currently under development. There has been a rapid growth in the literature on this topic. The chapter summarizes the conjugation of meso-tetrasubstituted porphyrin photosensitizers with biologically active elements (amino acids, bile acids, peptides, folic acid, sugars, oligonucleotides, monoclonal antibody), where most of the contemporary work also focuses. Porphyrin isomers and core modified porphyrins will also be discussed, followed by a brief discussion of nanoparticle derived systems.