Towards new multivalent supramolecular helical structures based on phthalocyanines for PDT applications

The self-assembly of α-D-glucose octafunctionalized Zn(II) phtalocyanine (ZnPc) in aqueous media has been investigated using different techniques such as UV, CD and diffusion-ordered 1H-NMR spectroscopy (DOSY). The formation of supramolecular columnar helical aggregates with a preferred handedness due to the presence of the sugar moiety has been confirmed by these techniques. Moreover, the stability of the supramolecular polymers formed has been assessed by using pyridine as a zinc ligand, disrupting the aggregates or inducing their formation by dilution of the system.