Phthalocyanines in organized microheterogeneous systems. Review

Supramolecular organization of phthalocyanines (Pc) and the possible techniques of preventing Pc aggregation in an aqueous environment, including the use of surfactants, are analyzed. Peculiarities of the formation of supramolecular aggregates based on Pc and a number of biocompatible surfactants, as well as the prospects of using them in photodynamic therapy, are discussed. Attention is paid to crown-containing individual and metal phthalocyanines in organized microheterogeneous systems. Synergistic effects of non-covalent interactions, such as host-guest complex formation of Na+ ions and crown fragments, as well as electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, provide the high selectivity of the formation of micelle-bound Pc monomers in the presence of a number of anionic surfactants, which enables one to consider crown-containing phthalocyanines as promising compounds in photodynamic therapy.