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Special Issue

Porphyrin and Phthalocyanine Theranostics

Guest editors:

Jonathan Lovell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Email:

Pui-Chi Lo, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor of Chemistry
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Email:

Porphyrins and phthalocyanines are intensely colorful organic molecules derived from cyclic tetrapyrrole backbones. They have been used for over thirty years to both identify the location of tumors using fluorescence and to destroy them using photodynamic therapy (PDT). During PDT, porphyrin or phthalocyanine-based photosensitizers are administered intravenously or topically, and subsequent laser light generates reactive singlet oxygen, destroying the target tissue. The clinical efficacy of PDT has been demonstrated in many cancer types and other diseases as well, such as macular degeneration.

Due to intrinsic dual imaging and therapy capabilities, porphyrins are poised to drive new theranostic approaches to treat diseases. Since they are biocompatibile, novel strategies based on the strong optical nature or other properties of porphyrins and phthalocyanines have potential for rapid clinical translation. Biomedical applications are not limited to PDT and fluorescence imaging, as several new applications have been recently described, including using other imaging and therapy modalities.

We highly encourage researchers to submit original research manuscripts for this special issue of Theranostics as soon as possible. Review manuscripts will also be considered. The work should illustrate unique theranostic roles for porphyrins or phthalocyanines, with respect to topics including, but not limited to:

Bioconjugation
Sensors
Nanoparticle formulations
Targeting
Fluorescence imaging
Other imaging modalities
Photodynamic therapy
Other therapeutic modalities
Multimodal approaches

Manuscripts for the special issue can be sent directly to the guest editor(s) by email with the subject "Porphyrin Special Issue", or submitted online at http://www.thno.org/ms/submit?subgroup=Porphyrin (mark "Porphyrin Special Issue" in the "Suggested reviewers" field to identify the paper).

Detailed formatting instructions, in particular, the formatting of references, can be found in http://www.thno.org/ms/author.

All inquiries should be sent to the guest editor(s) at the above email address.