Porphyrins and phthalocyanines as model compounds for detoxification of tumor chemotherapeutic drugs

The fluorescence behavior of porphyrins and phthalocyanines allows one to discriminate between monomeric and associated states of the dyes. These criteria are necessary prerequisites to decide about the inclusion behaviour of the dyes in oligomeric cyclodextrins. Masking the hydrophobic portion of the dyes by cyclodextrins allows one to transport these substances as inert through the body of an animal. The story is depicted here of how to proceed from functionalized porphyrinoids to tumor therapeutic drugs.