Synthesis of pH-Responsive Glycopolymer with End Group Zinc(II) Phthalocyanines as Potential Photosensitizer

A novel end-functionalized glycopolymer poly (3-O-methacryloyl-D-glucofuranose) -b-poly (2-Diethylaminoethyl Methacrylate) (PMAGlc-b-PDEA-ZnTAPc) with zinc (II) teraamaninophthalocyanine was synthesized. First, a pH-responsive copolymer PMAIpG-b-PDEA was synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Then PMAIpG-b-PDEA reacted with ZnTAPc and deprotected to form a water-soluble and pH-responsive photosensitizer. The structure of the PMAGlc-b-PDEA-ZnTAPc was characterized by 1H NMR and GPC. The photophysical properties were evaluated by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra. The PMAGlc-b-PDEA-ZnTAPc can generate singlet oxygen species with good singlet oxygen quantum yields (Φ△=0.38), which is believed to be the major cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) for photodynamic therapy. The ZnPc functionalized glycopolymer will be used as a potential photosensitizer in the fields of photodynamic therapy.