mPEG-PLLA from PolySciTech used for synthesis of photodynamic chemotherapy agent.

Photodynamic therapy is a novel cancer treatment option which utilizes special agents, referred to as photosensitizers. These reagents are inactive and non-toxic under typical conditions but can be activated by certain wavelengths of light to kill cancerous cells. The benefit of such a therapy, over conventional chemotherapy, is that the location of action can be controlled by selectively illuminating the tumor region. PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) provides a wide variety of block copolymers which work well for forming micelle or nanoparticle formulations for medicinal delivery. Recently, mPEG-PLLA (PolyVivo AK004) was utilized by researchers at Wroclaw University as a precursor to synthesize zinc(II) phthalocyanine conjugate for photodynamic therapy. This research holds promise for safe and effective cancer therapy with lower side-effects. Read more: Lamch, Łukasz, Marta Tsirigotis-Maniecka, Julita Kulbacka, and Kazimiera A. Wilka. "Synthesis of new zinc (II) phthalocyanine conjugates with block copolymers for cancer therapy." Organic Chemistry part ii (2017): 433-445. http://www.arkat-usa.org/get-file/58826/

“Abstract: Synthetic routes towards new conjugates of hydrophilic zinc(II) phthalocyanine (ZnPc) with poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (Pluronic P123) and poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), are described. The main semiproduct ZnPc was obtained by heating 4-nitrophthalimide with urea and zinc chloride, followed by the reduction step. Steglich esterification was used to synthesize two ZnPc-conjugated block copolymers, further utilized in fabrication of polymeric micelles (PMs) - functionalized with the zinc(II) phthalocyanine-type moiety. Biological evaluation of the PMs indicated an acceptable biocompatibility level in accord with requirements in the field of nanotheranostics and nanomedicine. Keywords: ZnPc-conjugated block copolymers; cyclotetramerization; Steglich esterification; fluorescent polymeric micelles; diagnostic marker; in vitro biological evaluation”