Definition of "phthalocyanine" []

• Any of several stable, light-fast, blue or green organic pigments derived from the basic compound (C6H4C2N)4N4 and used in enamels, printing inks, linoleum, and plastics. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Their small size enables them to easily enter cells, and the phthalocyanine is taken up along with them."
• "Healthy cells will also internalise the drug-coated nanoparticles, but unlike cancer cells they will excrete the phthalocyanine."
• "If all goes to plan, phthalocyanine nanoparticles could be available for human trials within five years and will be administered either by injection into the bloodstream or directly into a tumour."