Light controllable TiO 2 -Ru nanocomposite system encapsulated in phospholipid unilamellar vesicles for anti-cancer photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy implies a combined use of a photosensitizing medicament and low-intensity light to cause selective damage to the target tissue—tumor. As potential medicament, we use Ru(II)(dcbpy) 2 Cl 2 complex, and in order to achieve better photosensitization properties, the Ru complex was attached to the nano carrier—TiO 2 nanoparticles. Additionally, this nanocomposite system was encapsulated in the phospholipid vesicles, which could be classified as small unilamellar vesicles, based on the technique of production. The complex-release tests were performed under light illumination, at pH 5, characteristic for tumor cells` interior and compared with the release pattern at pH 7, characteristic for the serum, i.e. physiological solution.