Synthesis and Characterization of a Magnetic Nanoemulsion as a Promissing Candidate for Cancer Treatment

In this study, we performed the synthesis and characterization of a new class of drug delivery system denominated magnetic nanoemulsion (MNE), which allows the combined action of PDT and HPT therapies, designed to work in a synergic way, leading to an expected enhancement of the tumor damage after minimum doses of heat dissipation and/or visible light photosensitization. The MNPs used in this work are surface-coated with phosphate (PPT) and the photosensitizer used is Zinc phthalocyanine derivative (ZnPC). The morphologic characteristics of MNEs were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. In order to evaluate the entrapment efficiency of PS present on MNEs, we used the UV-vis spectroscopic technique. Photophysical properties of MNE/ZnPC, MNE/PPT and MNE/ZnPC/PPT were studied by time-resolved spectroscopic techniques (triplet lifetimes and singlet oxygen quantum yields). The triplet lifetimes were measured by triplet-triplet absorption flash photolysis.The decay profiles of the MNE/ZnPC and MNE/ZnPC/PPT were measured at 480 nm, under 355 nm Nd-YAG laser excitation.