Effect of PVP formulation on the in vitro photodynamic efficiency of a photosensitizing phthalocyanine

Abstract

The administration of photosensitizers and their biocompatibility is crucial to the success of photodynamic therapy treatment. Amongst the various strategies developed to administer photosensitizers of low water-solubility, the use of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), an FDA-approved food additive, is emerging as extremely promising. Its effect on photodynamic outcome was compared to more classical formulation in DMSO and direct solubilization in water. The tetrakis (2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)-Zn(II) phthalocyanine chosen as the model photosensitizer for this study proved to be a powerful photosensitizer. Even if slightly less efficient than DMSO formulation, PVP formulation proved to work very well, with submicromolar IC50 and IC90 values against MDA-MB-231 human cancer cells.