A number of Zn(II)- phthalocyanines bearing peripheral substituents of cationic nature due to the presence of quaternarized anilinium or ammonium groups were shown to be efficient photoantimicrobial agents: a 4-5 log decrease in the survival of both wild-type or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was obtained upon short irradiation times in the presence of phthalocyanine concentrations as low as 0.1 microM. A careful selection of the experimental protocol, and in particular the use of short (5 min) incubation times and mild irradiation parameters, allowed one to achieve a high selectivity of S. aureus photoinactivation as compared with important constituents of potential host tissues, such as human fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The efficiency and selectivity of the photoprocess were not affected by the presence of 5% human serum.

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The MacDonald's [2 + 2] condensation of unsubstituted dipyrromethane and 3- or 4-hydroxyalkoxybenzoaldehydes afforded 5,15-meso-hydroxyalkoxyphenylporphyrins. The hydroxyl groups on the side chains were then transformed to tertiary amines via synthesis of the mesylate and substitution with the appropriate amines or aminoalcohols. Methylation of such products afforded a series of cationic porphyrins which have been tested in vitro as photodynamic agents against microorganisms, showing high antimicrobial activity.