Atula S. D. Sandanayaka

Fabrication of ZnPc/protein nanohorns for double photodynamic and hyperthermic cancer phototherapy

Multifunctionalization of carbon nanotubules is easily achieved by attaching functional molecules that provide specific advantages for microscopic applications. We fabricated a double photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photohyperthermia (PHT) cancer phototherapy system that uses a single laser. Zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) was loaded onto single-wall carbon nanohorns with holes opened (SWNHox), and the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) was attached to the carboxyl groups of SWNHox. In this system, ZnPc was the PDT agent, SWNHox was the PHT agent, and BSA enhanced biocompatibility. The double phototherapy effect was confirmed in vitro and in vivo. When ZnPc-SWNHox-BSA was injected into tumors that were subcutaneously transplanted into mice, the tumors almost disappeared upon 670-nm laser irradiation. In contrast, the tumors continued to grow when only ZnPc or SWNHox-BSA was injected. We conclude that carbon nanotubules may be a valuable new tool for use in cancer phototherapy.

Sensitive efficiency of photoinduced electron transfer to band gaps of semiconductive single-walled carbon nanotubes with supramolecularly attached zinc porphyrin bearing pyrene glues.

Photoinduced electron transfer in self-assembled single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)/zinc porphyrin (ZnP) hybrids utilizing (7,6)- and (6,5)-enriched SWNTs has been investigated. Toward this, first, zinc porphyrin was covalently functionalized to possess four pyrene entities (ZnP(pyr)(4)). Exfoliation of the semiconducting nanotube bundles occurred due to pi-pi-type interactions with the pyrene and porphyrin entities in organic solvents. The nanohybrids thus formed were isolated and characterized by TEM, UV-visible-near-IR, and Raman spectroscopy. Free-energy calculations suggested the possibility of electron transfer in both the (7,6)- and (6,5)-possessing ZnP(pyr)(4)/SWNT nanohybrids. Accordingly, fluorescence studies revealed efficient quenching of the singlet excited state of ZnP in the nanohybrids, originating from the charge separation, as confirmed by observation of a ZnP pi-cation radical in transient absorption spectra. The rates of charge separation were found to be slightly higher for (7,6)-SWNT-derived hybrids compared to the (6,5)-SWNT-derived hybrids. Charge recombination revealed an opposite effect, indicating that the (7,6)-SWNTs are slightly better for charge stabilization compared to the (6,5)-SWNTs. The present nanohybrids were further utilized to photochemically reduce the hexyl viologen dication in the presence of a sacrificial electron donor in an electron-pooling experiment, offering additional proof for the occurrence of photoinduced charge separation and potential utilization of these materials in light-energy-harvesting applications. Finally, solar cells constructed using the ZnP/SWNT hybrids revealed higher efficiency for the ZnP(pyr)(4)/(7,6)-SWNT hybrid with narrower nanotube band gap compared with the ZnP(pyr)(4)/(6,5)-SWNT having a relatively wider band gap.

Fullerene-encapsulated porphyrin hexagonal nanorods. An anisotropic donor–acceptor composite for efficient photoinduced electron transfer and light energy conversion

We have successfully constructed fullerene-encapsulated porphyrin hexagonal nanorods in DMF-acetonitrile solution mixed with CTAB surfactant, which demonstrate efficient and characteristic photoinduced electron transfer and light energy conversion properties.

Energy Transfer Followed by Electron Transfer in a Porphyrin Macrocycle and Central Acceptor Ligand: A Model for a Photosynthetic Composite of the Light‐Harvesting Complex and Reaction Center

A system that models a photosynthetic composite of the light-harvesting complex and reaction center is reported in which light energy collected by cyclic antenna porphyrins is transferred to a central energy-acceptor porphyrin, followed by photoinduced electron transfer to a fullerene positioned above the ring plane. Pyridyl tripodal ligands appended with bis(phenylethynyl)porphyrinatozinc(II) (ZnP-Tripod) and additional fulleropyrrolidine moieties (C(60)-ZnP-Tripod) were synthesized as the reaction center units. The tripodal ligand was strongly accommodated by the light-harvesting porphyrin macrocycle N-(1-Zn)(3) (1-Zn = trisporphyrinatozinc(II)) by using three-point coordination of pyridyl to uncoordinated porphyrinatozinc sites to afford a stable 1:1 composite. The binding constants for ZnP-Tripod and C(60)-ZnP-Tripod in benzonitrile were estimated from steady-state fluorescence titrations to be 1.4x10(7) and 1.6x10(7) M(-1), respectively. The steady-state fluorescence titration, fluorescence lifetime, and transient absorption studies revealed that in both composites the excitation energy collected by the nine porphyrins of N-(1-Zn)(3) was efficiently transferred to a ZnP moiety by means of a through-space mechanism with a quantum yield of approximately 90%. Furthermore, in the composite with C(60)-ZnP-Tripod, the converged energy at the ZnP moiety induced electron transfer to the C(60) moiety, which afforded the stable charge-separated state (Phi(CS)>90%).

Photoinduced Charge Separation in a Ferrocene−Aluminum(III) Porphyrin−Fullerene Supramolecular Triad†

Light-induced electron transfer is investigated in a ferrocene-aluminum(III) porphyrin-fullerene supramolecular triad (FcAlPorC(60)) and the constituent dyads (AlPorC(60) and FcAlPorPh). The fullerene unit (C(60)) is bound axially to the aluminum(III) porphyrin (AlPor) via a benzoate spacer, and ferrocene (Fc) is attached via an amide linkage to one of the four phenyl groups in the meso positions of the porphyrin ring. The absorption spectra and voltammetry data of the complexes suggest that the ground state electronic structures of the Fc, AlPor, and C(60) entities are not significantly perturbed in the dyads and triad. Time-resolved optical and transient electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) data show that photoexcitation of the AlPorC(60) dyad results in efficient electron transfer from the excited singlet state of the porphyrin to fullerene, producing the charge-separated state AlPor(•+)-C(60)(•-). The fluorescence and transient EPR data also suggest that some energy transfer from the porphyrin to fullerene may occur. The lifetime of the radical pair AlPor(•+)-C(60)(•-) measured by transient absorbance spectroscopy is found to be 39 ns in o-dichlorobenzene at room temperature. At 200 K, transient EPR experiments place a lower limit of 5 μs on the radical pair lifetime. In the triad, the data suggest that excitation of the porphyrin gives rise to the charge-separated state Fc(•+)-AlPor-C(60)(•-) in two electron transfer steps. Photocurrent measurements demonstrate that both dyads and the triad have good photovoltaic performance. However, when Fc is appended to AlPorC(60), the expected improvement of the radical pair lifetime and the photovoltaic characteristics is not observed.

Diameter‐Sorted SWCNT–Porphyrin and SWCNT–Phthalocyanine Conjugates for Light‐Energy Harvesting

A non-covalent double-decker binding strategy is employed to construct functional supramolecular single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT)-tetrapyrrole hybrids capable of undergoing photoinduced electron transfer and performing direct conversion of light into electricity. To accomplish this, two semiconducting SWCNTs of different diameters (6,5 and 7,6) were modified via π-π stacking of pyrene functionalized with an alkyl ammonium cation (PyrNH(3)(+)). Such modified nanotubes were subsequently assembled via dipole-cation binding of zinc porphyrin with one (1) or four benzo-18-crown-6 cavities (2) or phthalocyanine with four benzo-18-crown-6 cavities at the ring periphery (3), employed as visible-light photosensitizers. Upon charactering the conjugates using TEM and optical techniques, electron transfer via photoexcited zinc porphyrin and phthalocyanine was investigated using time-resolved emission and transient absorption techniques. Higher charge-separation efficiency is established for SWCNT(7,6) with a narrow band gap than the thin SWCNT(6,5) with a wide band gap. Photoelectrochemical studies using FTO/SnO(2) electrodes modified with these donor-acceptor conjugates unanimously demonstrated the ability of these conjugates to convert light energy into electricity. The photocurrent generation followed the trend observed for charge separation, that is, incident-photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) of a maximum of 12 % is achieved for photocells with FTO/SnO(2)/SWCNT(7,6)/PyrNH(3)(+):1.

Photochemical charge separation in supramolecular phthalocyanine-multifullerene conjugates assembled by crown ether-alkyl ammonium cation interactions.

Self-assembled phthalocyanine-multifullerene donor-acceptor conjugates have been formed by crown ether-ammonium cation dipole-ion binding strategy to probe the photochemical charge separation. To achieve this, phthalocyanine is functionalized to possess four 18-crown-6 moieties on the macrocycle periphery, whereas fullerene is functionalized to possess an alkyl ammonium cation of short and long chain lengths. Stable donor-acceptor conjugates accommodating multifullerene entities have been obtained by the crown ether-ammonium cation inclusion complexation. From the efficient fluorescence quenching of the zinc phthalocyanine by the bound fullerene entities, the rate constants of charge separation are evaluated to be slightly larger for closely held via shorter alkyl chain length fullerene, which are also larger compared to the earlier reported analogous zinc porphyrin-multifullerene conjugate. Nanosecond transient absorption studies yielded spectral signatures corresponding to both the phthalocyanine radical cation and fullerene radical anion at the same time, providing evidence of light-induced electron transfer within the conjugates. The evaluated lifetimes of the radical ion pairs in the present phthalocyanine-fullerene conjugates are found to be hundreds of nanoseconds and are much longer compared to the earlier reported conjugate of zinc porphyrin analogue, revealing higher possible usage of the generated radical ion pairs.

A carbon nanohorn-porphyrin supramolecular assembly for photoinduced electron-transfer processes

A supramolecular assembly of zinc porphyrin-carbon nanohorns (CNHs) was constructed in a polar solvent. An ammonium cation was covalently connected to the CNH through a spacer (sp) (CNH-sp-NH(3)(+)) and bound to a crown ether linked to a zinc porphyrin (Crown-ZnP). Nanohybrids CNH-sp-NH(3)(+);Crown-ZnP and CNH-sp-NH(3)(+) were characterized by several techniques, such as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The photoinduced electron-transfer processes of the nanohybrids have been confirmed by using time-resolved absorption and fluorescence measurements by combining the steady-state spectral data. Fluorescence quenching of the ZnP unit by CNH-sp-NH(3)(+) has been observed, therefore, photoinduced charge separation through the excited singlet state of the ZnP unit is suggested for the hybrid material, CNH-sp-NH(3)(+);Crown-ZnP. As transient absorption spectral experiments reveal the formation of the radical cation of the ZnP unit, electron generation is suggested as a counterpart of the charge-separation on the CNHs; such an electron on the CNHs is further confirmed by migrating to the hexylviologen dication (HV(2+)). Accumulation of the electron captured from HV(*+) is observed as electron pooling in solution in the presence of a hole-shifting reagent. Photovoltaic performance with moderate efficiency is confirmed for CNH-sp-NH(3)(+);Crown-ZnP deposited onto nanostructured SnO(2) films.

Bionano donor-acceptor hybrids of porphyrin, ssDNA, and semiconductive single-wall carbon nanotubes for electron transfer via porphyrin excitation

Photoinduced electron transfer in self-assemblies of porphyrins ion-paired with ssDNA wrapped around single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) has been reported. To accomplish the three-component hybrids, two kinds of diameter-sorted semiconducting SWCNT(n,m)s of different diameter ((n,m) = (6,5) and (7,6)) and free-base or zinc porphyrin bearing peripheral positive charges ((TMPyP(+))M (tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridyl)porphyrin); M = Zn and H(2)) serving as light-absorbing photoactive materials are utilized. The donor-acceptor hybrids are held by ion-pairing between the negatively charged phosphate groups of ssDNA on the surface of the SWCNT and the positively charged at the ring periphery porphyrin macrocycle. The newly assembled bionano donor-acceptor hybrids have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and spectroscopic methods. Photoinduced electron transfer from the excited singlet porphyrin to the SWCNTs directly and/or via ssDNA as an electron mediator has been established by performing systematic studies involving the steady-state and time-resolved emission as well as the transient absorption studies. Higher charge-separation efficiency has been successfully demonstrated by the selection of the appropriate semiconductive SWCNTs with the right band gap, in addition to the aid of ssDNA as the electron mediator.

Photoinduced electron transfer in zinc phthalocyanine loaded on single-walled carbon nanohorns in aqueous solution.

Notable electronic communication within ZnPc-SWNHox nanoensembles, where ZnPc is zinc phthalocyanine and SWNHox is an oxidized single-walled nanohorn, in both the ground and excited states is revealed by steady-state absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy measurements. The details of electron transfer reported here with time-resolved absorption and fluorescence measurements may broaden the use of SWNHox nanoensembles in photochemistry and photobiology.