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The effects of substituents and solvents on the photophysical and photochemical parameters of zinc(II) phthalocyanines are reported. The complexes studied are zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc), zinc tetra(tert-butylphenoxy)phthalocyanine [ZnPc(TBPh) 4 ], zinc octa(methylphenoxy)phthalocyanine [ZnPc(MPh) 8 ], zinc tetranitrophthalocyanine [ZnPc(NO 2 ) 4 ], zinc octachlorophthalocyanine (ZnPcCl 8 ), zinc tetrasulfophthalocyanine [ZnPc(SO 3 À ) 4 ], a mixture of zinc mono-, di-, tri-and tetrasulfophthalocyanine [ZnPc(SO 3 À ) mix ] and zinc naphthalocyanine (ZnNPc). It was found that the presence of peripheral substituents on the macrocycle enhances the yield of the triplet state. Among the different substituents, the sulfonated derivative, ZnPc(SO 3 À ) mix , has the longest triplet lifetime (t T ) and the highest singlet oxygen quantum yield (f D ). The near infra-red absorptions of the solvents reveal that solvents that absorb around 1100 nm (triplet energy level) and around 1270 nm (singlet oxygen energy level), quench the triplet state of the ZnPc derivative as well as singlet oxygen. Although water has a high singlet oxygen quenching effect, the f D value for ZnPc(SO 3 À ) mix in water is still reasonably high at 0.48, which may provide an explanation for the efficient photosensitization by this molecule in photodynamic studies.

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The purpose of this review is to compile preclinical and clinical results on phthalocyanines (Pcs) as photosensitizers (PS) for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and contrast agents for fluorescence imaging. Indeed, Pcs are excellent candidates in these fields due to their strong absorbance in the NIR region and high chemical and photo-stability. In particular, this is mostly relevant for their in vivo activation in deeper tissular regions. However, most Pcs present two major limitations, i.e., a strong tendency to aggregate and a low water-solubility. In order to overcome these issues, both chemical tuning and pharmaceutical formulation combined with tumor targeting strategies were applied. These aspects will be developed in this review for the most extensively studied Pcs during the last 25 years, i.e., aluminium-, zinc- and silicon-based Pcs.

Melatonin, a pineal secretory product, and its precursors, tryptophan and serotonin, were examined for their metal binding affinities for both essential and toxic metals: aluminium, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, and zinc. An electrochemical technique, adsorptive stripping voltammetry, showed the varying abilities of melatonin and its precursors to bind the metals in situ. The results show that the following metal complexes were formed: aluminium with melatonin, tryptophan, and serotonin; cadmium with melatonin and tryptophan; copper with melatonin and serotonin; iron(III) with melatonin and serotonin; lead with melatonin, tryptophan, and serotonin; and zinc with melatonin and tryptophan. Iron(II) showed the formation of an in situ complex with tryptophan only. These studies suggest a further role for melatonin in the reduction of free radical generation and metal detoxification, and they may explain the accumulation of aluminium in Alzheimer's disease.

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