Zinc phthalocyanine encapsulation via thiol-ene miniemulsion polymerization and in vitro photoxicity studies

This work aimed at the encapsulation of zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) in poly(thioether-ester) (PTEe) nanoparticles via thiol-ene miniemulsion polymerization using a biobased diene monomer and two different thiols as comonomers. ZnPc – PTEe nanoparticles presented an average diameter between 120 and 160 nm and high encapsulation efficiency for both thiols. The release profile of ZnPc from PTEe nanoparticles presented an initial burst effect followed by a slow release rate. Studies of cytotoxicity showed that the PTEe nanoparticles protected erythrocytes against ZnPc decreasing hemolytic damages. Moreover, a low concentration of ZnPc loaded in PTEe nanoparticles ensured the phototoxic effect on the MDA-MB231.