Abstract
A new class of molecules consisting of one or more carotenoid polyenes covalently linked to synthetic phthalocyanines (exemplified by structure 1) have been synthesized for use as tumor localizing, visualizing and diagnostic agents. These carotenophthalocyanines are designed to be administered by injection or other means, to localize preferentially in neoplastic tumor tissue, to absorb visible light and thereupon to fluoresce red light that can can be detected by eye or by instrumental methods, thus identifying and delineating the tumor tissue. Furthermore, these compounds are designed to quench phthalocyanine triplet states by triplet-triplet energy transfer to an attached carotenoid. This will prevent formation of singlet oxygen by energy tranfer from phthalocyanine triplet states, and thus prevent tissue
| Original language | English (US) |
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| State | Published - Jan 1 1900 |