Chloroaluminum Phthalocyanine Research Articles

Topical photodynamic therapy with chloroaluminum phthalocyanine liposomes is as effective as systemic pentavalent antimony in the treatment of experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis.

In the Americas, one of the main causative species of cutaneous leishmaniasis is Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. The systemic antimonials remain the most largely used option for disease control. However, this drug has significant toxicity. The development of new alternative therapies, including the identification of effective drugs for topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis, is of utmost interest. In this sense, photodynamic therapy emerges as a new strategy. The aim of this study was to develop the chloroaluminum phthalocyanine-loaded liposome, characterize it, and evaluate its stability and efficacy in the topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. (L.) amazonensis. Liposomes composed of egg phosphatidylcholine were prepared by Bangham's method. Storage stability of phthalocyanine-loaded liposomes was evaluated at 30 and 60 days after preparation. For the in vivo evaluation, the animals were infected with L. (L.) amazonensis and divided into groups: chloroaluminium phthalocyanine-loaded liposome, blank liposome, meglumine antimoniate (200 mgSb+5/Kg/day), and control. The lesion size was determined weekly after the beginning of the treatment. Upon completion, parasites were recovered from the skin lesion and spleen and evaluated by limiting dilution assay. Chloroaluminum phthalocyanine-loaded liposomes were stable and showed adequate characteristics for topical administration. The topical chloroaluminum phthalocyanine-loaded liposome was as effective as systemic pentavalent antimony in reducing the parasitic load in the lesion and spleen in infected animals. The present study showed that photodynamic therapy with chloroaluminum phthalocyanine-loaded liposomes is a promising strategy for the treatment of American cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. (L.) amazonensis.

Synthesis, photophysical and photobiological characterization of BSA nanoparticles loaded with chloroaluminium phthalocyanine by one-step desolvation technique for photodynamic therapy action

This work describes the preparation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles by one-step desolvation method using acetone/ethanol as precipitating agent, glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent, sodium azide as a preservative and water as reaction media for chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) incorporation for photodynamic therapy action. The characterization of the nanoparticulate system was carried out using steady-state technique, scanning electron microscopy study and their biological activity was evaluated using in vitro macrophages cell lines by classical MTT assay. All the spectroscopy measurements demonstrated good photophysical properties and the in vitro cytotoxicity study showed that the system is not cytotoxic in the darkness, but it exhibits a substantial phototoxicity at 0.90 mol.L−1 of photosensitizer concentration and 10.0 J cm−2 of light. These conditions are sufficient to kill about 90% of the cells. The results allowed us to conclude that ClAlPc-loaded in BSA nanoparticles might have potential application on drug delivery system for PDT protocols.

Tuning the band gap of the graphene oxide-chloro aluminum phthalocyanine nanocomposite by reducing the rate of graphene oxide

Abstract RGO−ClAlPc nanocomposite is synthesized by the chemical reduction of graphene oxide, using hydrazine hydrate in the presence of chloro aluminum phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). In this research study the results of FTIR and UV–Vis spectroscopy showed that ClAlPc molecules were attached on the RGO sheets by π−π interactions. The electrical properties of RGO−ClAlPc nanocomposites were investigated over a temperature range [298 K–393 K]. Then, several interdigital planar devices with 30 nm thickness and 200 μm interspacing of the electrodes were fabricated from the RGO−ClAlPc nanocomposite. The variation of current versus temperature at a constant 2 V indicated that the band gap of RGO−ClAlPc nanocomposite was changed as a function of the rate of GO reduction in the nanocomposite.

Using irradiation effect to study the disparate anchoring stabilities of polar-organic molecules adsorbed on bulk and thin-film metal surfaces

The behavior of polar metal organic molecules, chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (ClAlPc), upon ultraviolet (UV) irradiation was investigated to evaluate the stability of the adsorption process on the Ag(111) thin film and bulk crystal. Photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) was mainly employed to measure the molecular energy states (MES) and vacuum level (VL) shift for 1-ML ClAlPc in the Cl-down configuration. A consistent trend was observed showing that ClAlPc in the Cl-down configuration is energetically more stable on the Ag thin-film surface than on the corresponding surface of the Ag bulk crystal. The intermediate adsorption state in tilted configuration during the irradiation impinging is identified by large positive VL shifts and broad spectra line shapes to infer a flipping mechanism from Cl-down to Cl-up configuration. Strain on the Ag thin films from the underlying lattice-mismatched Ge(111) substrate is considered to cause enlarged hollow sites on the Ag(111) thin-films, that anchor the Cl-down configuration more tightly on the thin-film surfaces, as confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Unoccupied conduction band of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine

The electronic structure of the unoccupied conduction band of polycrystalline chloroaluminum phthalocyanine was investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) near the Cl K-edge. XAS spectra were recorded in total electron yield (TEY) and partial Auger electron yield (AEY) modes. Partial AEY spectra were measured using normal and spectator Cl KL2,3L2,3 Auger yields as a function of photon energy. Although the TEY spectrum showed a broad shape; that was difficult to deconvolute curve fitting, the normal and spectator AEY spectra clearly showed that Cl 1s → σ*(Cl–Al) transition splits into two competitive peaks attributed to the core excitons (localized with a core hole) and conduction band (delocalized without a core hole). The existence of a band-like peak in the Cl K-edge XAS is evidence that the Cl axial ligand participates in forming the conduction band. Thus, band-like electron transport is expected to occur in the oligomer-like (–Al–Cl–Al–) site.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy reduces adhesion capacity and biofilm formation of Candida albicans from induced oral candidiasis in mice.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has been considered an alternative therapeutic modality for the treatment of Candida infections. However, most studies are focused mainly on microorganism's inactivation efficiency. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of aPDT mediated by chloro-aluminum phthalocyanine encapsulated in cationic nanoemulsions (ClAlP-NE) to treat oral candidiasis in vivo and its effect on the adhesion and biofilm formation of Candida albicans. For this, mice were immunosuppressed and inoculated with C. albicans to produce oral candidiasis. aPDT and Nystatin were applied for 5 successive sessions. Next, the microbiological evaluation was determined (CFU/ml) and the analyses of virulence factors (adhesion capacity and biofilm formation) were performed. Data were analyzed by Two-way ANOVA (α = 0.05). aPDT was as effective as Nystatin reducing 1.4 and 2.0 log10 of the cell viability (p ≤ 0.0001), respectively. Both treatments reduced the adhesion capacity and biofilm formation of C. albicans (p ≤ 0.0001) CONCLUSION: : ClAlP-NE-mediated aPDT was effective in reducing the virulence factors of C. albicans and also to treat induced oral candidiasis in mice.

Study of the efficacy of N-methyl glucamine antimoniate (SbV) associated with photodynamic therapy using liposomal chloroaluminium phthalocyanine in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (L.) amazonensis in C57BL6 mice.

Pentavalent antimonials remain first-line drugs in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL); however, adverse effects and drug resistance have led to the search for less toxic and more effective treatments. As an alternative, topical phthalocyanine has been studied and its efficacy and low toxicity demonstrated. We aimed to study the in vivo efficacy of N-methyl glucamine antimoniate (NMG) associated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) with topical liposomal chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (AlClPC) in the treatment of experimental CL by L. amazonensis. Experimental study with 54 C57BL6 isogenic mice divided into 9 groups including uninfected control, untreated control, PDT with AlClPC + NMG at doses of 10 and 20 mgSbV/Kg/day. The criteria to evaluate the treatment efficacy were: paw diameter, amastigote count, culture, viability test and parasite counts using MTT (3-bromo-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide). Treatment of CL with the association of NMG20 + PDT with AlClPC showed significant reduction of paw diameter, amastigote count, cultures, viability test and parasite counts. Parasite reduction occurred at the 10th and 20th days of treatment and 60 days after treatment ended, indicating that parasites did not multiply again. The NMG10 + PDT group with AlClPC presented results equivalent to gold-standard treatment (20 mgSbV/kg/day). Biochemical and histopathological evaluation showed minor changes. Treatment of CL caused by L. amazonensis with NMG20 mgSbV/kg/day + PDT with AlClPC was more effective than the traditional NMG20 mgSbV/kg/day.

Fabrication of polyelectrolyte microspheres using porous manganese carbonate as sacrificial template for drug delivery application

Abstract

Transferosomas conteniendo ftalocianina de aluminio clorada como alternativa terapeútica en leishmaniasis cutánea: permeabilidad y biodistribución en ratas Wistar

Transferosomas conteniendo ftalocianina de aluminio clorada como alternativa terapeútica en leishmaniasis cutánea: permeabilidad y biodistribución en ratas Wistar

Unusual self-assembly of chloroaluminium phthalocyanine on graphite

We report an unusual self-assembled layer structure of chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) molecules on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), in which a close-packed well-ordered monolayer is separated from the substrate by a relatively disordered buffer layer, as revealed using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Our close-packed monolayer has a nearly rectangular lattice, instead of the distinctly different square lattice for the more commonly observed well-ordered bilayer structure. This may be due to the dominance of intermolecular interactions within the monolayer when the influence from the substrate is shielded by the buffer layer. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and Reduced Density Gradient (RDG) analysis indicate that the dominant intermolecular interaction within the unusual layer is likely the London dispersion force.

Adipogenic differentiation of murine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells induced by visible light via photo- induced biomodulation.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are undifferentiated cells that can proliferate and differentiate into specialized cells for tissue self-repair. Low-level laser (LLL) can induce biomodulatory effects such as cellular proliferation, differentiation, and migration. We investigated the biomodulatory effects of the photoactive compound chloroaluminum phthalocyanine nanoemulsion (AlClPc/NE) on the adipogenic differentiation of BM-MSCs, when combined with LLL (AlClPc/NE-LLL). The BM-MSCs used in this work were isolated from green fluorescent protein-positive (GFP+) C57BL6 mice. Cells were first treated with AlClPc/NE, a well-designed photoactive nano-drug and were then subjected to in vitro expansion, morphological and immunophenotypic characterization, and cellular cytotoxicity analysis. Subsequently, BM-MSCs were induced to differentiate into adipocytes by photo-induced biomodulation with AlClPc/NE-LLL. Our results showed that the isolated cell population was consistent with murine BM-MSCs. The cellular cytotoxicity analysis revealed that the optimal nanoemulsion dose to induce BM-MSC biomodulation was 5.0 μmol/L. Twenty-four hours following treatment with AlClPc/NE, BM-MSC were subjected to visible light irradiation of 20 mJ/cm2 at 670 nm. Six days after photo-induced biomodulation, cells maintained high GFP expression level, and expressed detectable mRNA levels of adipogenic genes (lipoprotein lipase and PPARγ); formation of lipid vacuoles was observed, and the cells did not show any tumorigenic potential in vivo. Our results indicated that photo-induced biomodulation via visible light using AlClPc/NE and LLL can induce adipogenic differentiation of murine BM-MSCs. Therefore, cell therapy with BM-MSCs and photo-induced biomodulation may contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies that are faster and more effective than traditional methods to trigger MSC differentiation.

Organic photovoltaic integrator with three complementary absorption bands to enhance efficiency

The spectrum of 400 to 1100 nm sunlight can be divided into three bands, each absorbed by organic photovoltaic devices that are particularly efficient under the band in question, to achieve higher photoelectric conversion efficiency. The three bands are the absorption bands of fullerene (C70), chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (ClAlPc), and tin naphthalocyanine dichloride (SnNcCl2), which have peak values of 500, 731, and 863 nm, respectively. C70 is a well-known acceptor, whereas ClAlPc and SnNcCl2 serve as donors. In combination with another donor made of 4,4’-cyclohexylidenebis[N,N-bis(4-methylphenyl)benzenamine] (TAPC), which is almost transparent in 400 to 1100 nm, three devices were fabricated and had active layers of TAPC : C70, ClAlPc : C70, and SnNcCl2 : C70. After the doping proportions of these materials had been optimized, the maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) values of the three devices were 4.52%, 4.3%, and 1.33%, respectively. The properties of donor material dominated the differences among these device behaviors. Subsequently, the overall PCE of a simulated multiple reflection module was calculated using these three devices, which, depending on the arranged sequence in which they were exposed to light and reflected the light to another, generated different absorption spectrum and thus influenced the overall PCE of the photovoltaic integrator. The highest overall simulated and experimental PCE of the photovoltaic integrator was 6.12% and 5.9%, respectively.

Effect of Chloroaluminium phthalocyanine in cationic nanoemulsion on photoinactivation of multispecies biofilm.

Photosensitizers in nanocarriers have been investigated for antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT). However, most studies are focused against microorganisms in planktonic or monospecies biofilm. Thus, this in vitro study evaluated the effect of aPDT using Chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) in cationic nanoemulsion (NE) against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Streptococcus mutans grown as multispecies biofilm. Standard suspensions of each microorganism were added into wells of a microtiter plate for biofilm growth for 48 h in a candle jar. The biofilms were incubated with ClAlPc in cationic NE at 31.8 μM for 30 min and illuminated with red light fluence of 39.3 J/cm2 (P+L+ group). Additional samples were treated only with photosensitizer (P+L-) or red light (P-L+) or neither (P-L-, control group). aPDT efficacy was assessed by colony quantification, biofilm's metabolic activity, total biomass, and confocal microscopy. Data were analyzed by ANOVA/Welch and post-hoc Tukey/Games-Howell tests (α = 0.05). aPDT (P+L+) reduced the colony count in 1.30 to 2.24 lg10 and the metabolic activity in 53.7% compared with the control group (P-L-). The total biomass showed no statistical difference among the groups. The confocal microscopy analyzes showed uptake of the PS in the biofilm, and dead cells were observed in the biofilm treated with aPDT. aPDT mediated by ClAlPc in cationic NE promoted photoinactivation of the multispecies biofilm, which was confirmed by colony quantification, metabolic activity, and confocal microscopy. However, the total biomass of the biofilm was not affected by the treatment.

Skin permeation, biocompatibility and antitumor effect of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine associated to oleic acid in lipid nanoparticles.

The objective of this study was to develop and characterize lipid nanoparticles (LNs) containing chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) to reduce the aggregation of the drug and improve its skin penetration and its antitumor effect. LNs were prepared and characterized by using stearic acid (SA) as solid lipid and oleic acid (OA) as liquid lipid in different proportions. in vitro and in vivo skin penetration was evaluated using modified Franz diffusion cells and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. in vitro biocompatibility and Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) were performed using L929-fibroblasts cell line and A549 cancer cell line and melanoma BF16-F10, respectively. OA promoted the increase in the encapsulation efficiency and drug loading, reaching values of 95.8% and 4%, respectively. The formulation with 40% OA (NLC 40) showed a significantly higher (p < 0.01) amount of drug retained in the skin compared to other formulations. All formulations developed were considered biocompatible. PDT evidenced the antitumor efficacy of NLC 40 with reduced cell viability for approximately 10% of cancer cells, demonstrating that the presence of OA in the NLC seems to potentialize this antitumor effect. PDT in BF16-F10 melanoma using NLC 40 resulted in a reduction in mean cell viability of approximately 99%. According to the results obtained, the systems developed may be promising for the incorporation of ClAlPc in the treatment of skin cancer by photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy using ultradeformable liposomes loaded with chlorine aluminum phthalocyanine against L. (V.) braziliensis experimental models

Ultradeformable liposomes (UDLs) containing sodium cholate as edge activator could be an appropriate skin drug-delivery system for chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) during photodynamic therapy (PDT) against cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). The aim of this work was to study cell internalization, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and toxicity/genotoxicity and transdermal delivery of UDL-ClAlPc, and to determine whether PDT was able to induce anti-leishmanial activity in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis experimental models. Prepared liposomes had an average size of 118.39 nm, zeta potential of −37.83 mV, and polydispersity index of 0.15. Liposomal internalization (red fluorescence inside cells), ROS generation (green fluorescence by 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate [DCFH-DA] cleavage) and non-specific DNA damage (photo-comets) were observed after PDT. Transdermal delivery of ClAlPc, measured by in vitro diffusion experiments through BALB/c skin, showed that UDL-ClAlPc was able to deliver very low quantities of ClAlPc (<1%) to deep skin layers. PDT using UDL-ClAlPc induced photodamage in mammalian cells (J774, THP-1, and NIH-3T3), promastigotes, and intracellular amastigotes without a selective response against amastigotes (selective index ≥1). Topical once-daily ClAlPc-UDL plus visible-light irradiation (20 J/cm2) twice weekly for 3 weeks was ineffective against L. (V.) braziliensis-infected BALB/c mice, whereas miltefosine 30 mg/kg/day orally for 10 days healed the lesions and scars, without parasites observed on the slides. Even though UDLs preserved ClAlPc photoactivities and were able to deliver ClAlPc to dermis, they were unable to result in healing of CL-infected mice after PDT. Experiments using different CL animal models and liposomes with increased skin permeability abilities are recommended.

Formulation of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine incorporated into PS-b-PAA diblock copolymer nanomicelles

Chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) is considered to be an important photosensitizer compound, and it has been extensively explored in photodynamic therapy (PDT) against several types of cancer cell lines. However, ClAlPc is known to be a highly hydrophobic compound. Thus, it requires physical association with a drug delivery system for clinical use. In this study, distinct formulations of PS70.5-b-PAA13 diblock copolymer nanostructures containing ClAlPc were studied. Results found in this study showed that the ClAlPc/PS70.5-b-PAA13 diblock composite presented micellar morphology and a size of 200 nm while dispersed in aqueous media. Additionally, zeta potential studies revealed that such formulations presented colloidal stability with low polydispersity index (PDI) values (0.121). The encapsulation efficiency of ClAlPc by such copolymer micelles, made through spectroscopic measures, was higher than 95% while at the phthalocyanine concentration range from 9.0 to 70 μmol L−1. Spectroscopic studies also showed that the existence of monomeric ClAlPc in such nanostructured micelles is closely dependent on the PS concentration. Low PS concentration resulted in monomeric ClAlPc, as observed from the correspondent absorption and emission spectra of freshly-prepared composite. However, even after 15 days of storage and at low PS concentration, the ClAlPc can self-aggregate within the polymer-micellar nanoenvironment (as observed through spectroscopic studies). Photophysical properties of ClAlPc incorporated in the PS-b-PAA copolymer system revealed promising values of oxygen singlet generation (ΦΔ1O2 = 0.3). Skin permeation studies performed by photoacoustic spectroscopy showed that the ClAlPc/PS-b-PAA nanosystem permeates and reaches the superficial dermis layer. In vitro tests, using Caco-2 cell-lines incubated with ClAlPc/PS-b-PAA formulations at different phthalocyanine concentrations, showed cellular damage after 30 min under light radiation (663 nm with LED, fluence of 1.62 μJ cm−2). The IC50 obtained for the system containing ClAlPc/PS-b-PAA was 1.74 · 10−7 mol L−1. Furthermore, no cytotoxicity effect was observed during cell growth tests performed using both ClAlPc/PS-b-PAA composite and pristine PS-b-PAA nanomicelles in the absence of light irradiation. These findings suggested that the PS-b-PAA diblock copolymer produced a promising nanostructured system suitable for the incorporation of the hydrophobic ClAlPc photosensitizer and for subsequent use in the PDT field.

Quenching Effects of Graphene Oxides on the Fluorescence Emission and Reactive Oxygen Species Generation of Chloroaluminum Phthalocyanine.

The photophysical behavior and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (AlClPc) are evaluated by steady state absorption/emission, transient emission, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies in the presence of graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO), and carboxylated nanographene oxide (NGO). AlClPc and graphene oxides form a supramolecular structure stabilized by π-π interactions, which quantitatively quenches fluorescence emission and suppresses ROS generation. These effects occur even when graphenes are previously functionalized with Pluronic F-127. A small part of quenching is due to an inner filter effect, in which graphene oxides compete with AlClPc for light absorption. Nonetheless, most of the (static) quenching arises on the formation of a nonemissive ground state complex between AlClPc and graphene oxides. The efficiency of graphene oxides on the fluorescence quenching and ROS generation suppression follows the order: GO < NGO < RGO.

Chiral Organization and Charge Redistribution in Chloroaluminum Phthalocyanine on Au(111) Beyond the Monolayer

The nontrivial effect of molecular dipoles on the surface work function of metals is explored for the unidirectional ordered arrays forming the first and second layers of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine on Au(111). This phthalocyanine is a nonplanar molecule with permanent electric dipole perpendicular to its molecular π-plane that can adopt two distinct configurations (Cl-up and Cl-down) when adsorbed on surfaces. The ordered array forming the first layer is known to consist of all Cl-up molecules, whereas the less-studied second layer is formed by molecules in the Cl-down configuration. The inverted orientation of the molecules in these two layers constitutes our benchmark system to investigate the influence of the dipole array orientation on the surface work function. The present study includes an experimental and theoretical approach that combines diverse imaging and spectroscopic scanning probe microscopies, in ultrahigh vacuum, with first-principles density functional theory-based atomistic simulation...

An Iterative Approach To Evaluate and Guide Fine Chemical Processes: An Example from Chloroaluminum Phthalocyanine for Photovoltaic Applications

This work demonstrates the use of a sustainability methodology that combines process-based life cycle assessment (LCA) and green chemistry metrics to evaluate and guide fine chemical synthesis. Using green chemistry principles and an iterative approach, alternatives are developed and evaluated using the proposed methodology until an alternative that simultaneously reduces the environmental impact, cost, and chemical hazard is found. The approach is demonstrated for chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (ClAlPc), which is a common donor material in organic photovoltaic. This study (1) demonstrates a new method to evaluate fine chemical manufacturing containing uncharacterized chemicals that combine LCA and green chemistry metrics, (2) provides life cycle inventories associated with various methods for ClAlPc synthesis, and (3) reports an optimized process for high-purity ClAlPc which simultaneously reduces the relative environmental impact by 3%, the cost by 9%, and the chemical hazard by 23% compared to the basel...

Combining Photodynamic Therapy and Chemotherapy: Improving Breast Cancer Treatment with Nanotechnology.

Nanomedical approaches are the major transforming factor in cancer therapies. Based on important previous works in the field of drug delivery nanomaterials, recent years have brought a broad array of new and improved intelligent nanoscale platforms that are suited to deliver drugs. In this context, the purpose of this study was to investigate the action of different nanoemulsions designed to encapsulate chloroaluminum phthalocyanine, a hydrophobic photosensitizer used in photodynamic therapy, and doxorubicin, a well-known chemotherapeutic agent used to treat aggressive breast cancer cells. The mean nanostructured system size ranged from 170.8 to 181.0 nm, and the nanoemulsions presented spherical morphology. All formulations exhibited negative zeta potential values (-68.7 to -75.0 mV) and suitable polydispersity values (0.20 to 0.28), explaining their colloidal stability up to three months. Murine breast cancer cells (4T1) were incubated with nanoemulsions for three hours at various concentrations and were subjected to cell viability tests to find the concentration dependence profile. Thereafter, the in vitro phototoxic effect was evaluated in the presence of the visible laser light irradiation. Less than 10% of 4T1 viable cells were observed when photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy were combined at a 1.0 J · cm-2 laser light dose with 1.0 μM phthalocyanine and 0.5 μM doxorubicin. The cell death assay and cell cycle arrest analysis confirmed the therapy efficiency demonstrating an increase in the apoptosis rate and in the cell cycle arrest on G2. Additionally, 15 genes related to apoptosis and 25 target genes of anti-cancer drugs were overexpressed. Four genes related to apoptosis and four target genes of anti-cancer drugs were downregulated in 4T1 cells after treatment with nanoemulsion with phthalocyanine and doxorubicin associated with photodynamic therapy. Thus, the nanoemulsions loaded with phthalocyanine and doxorubicin presented appropriate physical stability, improved photophysical properties, and remarkable activity in vitro to be considered as promising formulations for photodynamic therapy and chemotherapeutic use in breast cancer treatment.