*2.3. Nanoemulsion Containing Aluminum-Phthalocyanine (AlPc-NE)*

The nanoemulsion containing aluminum-phthalocyanine (AlPc-NE) was prepared by the spontaneous nanoemulsification method described by Muehlmann et al. [11]. Briefly, 9 g Kolliphor® ELP and 3 g castor oil were mixed with 40 mL AlPc 100 µM in ethanol. This solution was stirred at 50 ◦C for 15 min. Ethanol was then removed at 80 ◦C under magnetic stirring. Next, 70 mL of distilled water was added, and the dispersion was left under stirring at room temperature until a transparent nanoemulsion was obtained. The volume was then completed to 100 mL with PBS. The final concentration of AlPc in this formulation was 40 µM.
