dendrimer phthalocyanine micelle

Dendrimer phthalocyanine micelle (DPc/m) is a nanotherapeutic photosensitizer formulation developed for photodynamic therapy (PDT). It consists of a third-generation dendritic phthalocyanine (DPc) core, typically containing zinc, encapsulated within a polymeric micelle composed of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lysine) or similar block copolymers. This micellar structure improves the aqueous solubility of the hydrophobic phthalocyanine and facilitates its accumulation in tumor tissues via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Upon excitation by light (typically at 671 nm), the DPc/m generates singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to localized oxidative stress and cell death. It has been studied primarily for the treatment of solid tumors and hollow organ cancers, such as bladder cancer, where it is often paired with specialized fiber-optic probes for uniform light delivery.

Other names

dendrimer phthalocyanine-loaded micelleDPc-micelledendrimer phthalocyanine-encapsulated polymeric micelle