Meso-Tetrakis (4-hydroxylphenyl) porphyrin (THPP) is a photosensitize offering an alternate approach to the treatment of cancer in the form of photodynamic therapy (PDT). The supramolecular system of THPP and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP beta-CD) and carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (CM-beta-CD), in aqueous solution has been studied by fluorescence and UV-vis spectroscopy. The formation of inclusion complexes has been observed on the base of change of spectroscopy properties. It is noted that the addition of HP-beta-CD leads to remarkably strong enhancement of fluorescence intensity (nearly 300 times) of THPP. THPP forms 1:1 inclusion complex with beta-CD and 1:2 inclusion complexes with the two other derivatives. Comparative to beta-CD and CM-beta-CD, the strongest inclusion ability of HP-beta-CD can be explained that the hydrogen bond plays significant role in the inclusion process. In addition, the UV-vis experimental showed that the cavity of HP-beta-CD causes the transform of the state of THPP, which is in agreement with the effect of polarity of solvent. Comparative to the pure buffer solution, the distinct equilibrium, H4THPP2+ reversible arrow H,THPP, has been observed in the solution of HP-beta-CD. It is certain that the enhancement factor of nearly 300 of fluorescence presents a potential application in the detection of THPP in pharmacokinetics and biodistribution studies. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
