Browsing by Subject "Cucurbituril"

Now showing 1 - 17 of 17

Open Access
A [5]Rotaxane-Based photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy
(WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, 2019) Özkan, Melis; Keser, Yağmur; Hadi, Seyed Ehsan; Tuncel, Dönüş
A [5]rotaxane was synthesized through a catalytically self‐threading reaction in which CB6 serves as a macrocycle and acts as a catalyst for the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction between the alkyne substituted porphyrin core and azide functionalized stopper groups by forming triazole. Application of this rotaxane as a photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy against cancer cells and in bacteria inactivation have also been demonstrated. This photosensitizer has an excellent water solubility and remains stable in biological media at physiological pH (7.4) for prolonged times. It has the ability to generate singlet oxygen efficiently; while it shows no dark cytotoxicity up to 300 µm to the MCF7 cancer cell line, it is photocytotoxic even at 2 µm and reduces the cell viability to around 70 % when exposed to white light. It also displays light‐triggered biocidal activity both against gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, E. coli) and gram‐positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis). Upon white light irradiation for 1 min with a flux of 22 mW/cm2 of E. coli suspension incubated with [5]rotaxane (3.5 µm), a killing efficiency of 96 % is achieved, whereas in the dark the effect is recorded as only around 9 %.
Open Access
Application of conjugated cucurbit[8]uril porphyrin supramolecular assembly in electrochemical hydrogen generation
(2020-08) Aoudi, Bouthaina
The ever-increasing demands for energy have encouraged an enormous consumption of fossil fuels worldwide. This has presented major concerns due to their limited resources and serious environmental issues. Therefore, the search for an alternative clean energy fuel has been intensively under study. In the past decade, hydrogen has attracted great attention as a promising fuel for the future. Hydrogen is an eco-friendly fuel that is readily abundant, highly efficient and clean since water is its only combustion product. Herein, this thesis highlights the synthesis and characterization of a novel supramolecular assembly based on cucurbit [8] uril -porphyrin functionalized on electrochemically reduced graphene oxide sheets for application in electrochemical hydrogen evolution. The study conveys optimization procedures for choosing the best catalytic system. Electrochemical analysis including potentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to evaluate activity and stability. Characterization techniques were also performed to analyze the morphology and chemical structures of composites. Electrochemical studies demonstrated that ERGO: Ni-P composite (which comprises of a layer of graphene oxide drop-casted on FTO followed by a layer of nickel CB[8]-porphyrin) can serve as an excellent electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution in alkaline medium. The composite exhibited high activity (onset potentialv -20 mV, 56.9 mmol h−1g −1 hydrogen, faradaic efficiency of 93% ), remarkable rate of charge transfer (Rct v 210 Ω), large electrochemical surface area (Cdl v1.67 mFcm−2 ) and significant stability without requiring additional noble metals.
Open Access
Application of covalent organic framework based on porphyrin and cucurbit[6]uril as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for hydrogen and oxygen evolution
(2021-01) Sheidaei, Yasaman
There is great apprehension about consumption of fossil fuels as well as the corresponding environmental issues which has evoked supreme efforts worldwide to develop clean and sustainable energy sources. Electrocatalytic water splitting producing both hydrogen and oxygen gas has shown considerable potential for energy conversion as hydrogen can meet the requirements for future energy demands. Hence it is of utmost importance to introduce novel electrocatalysts to overcome energy barriers for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Here this thesis highlights the synthesis and characterization of a novel supramolecular assembly of cucurbit[6]uril and porphyrin and also examines its electrocatalytic activity toward both HER and OER. Electrochemical studies such as linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were performed to investigate the activity of the catalyst. The structural and morphological properties of sample were also studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). It was observed that the catalyst was able to show excellent electrocatalytic activity with onset potentials of -0.25 V (for HER) and 1.6 V (for OER) while producing 18.7 and 14.92 mmol.gr-1.hr-1 hydrogen and oxygen gas with faradaic efficiencies of 85% and 99%, respectively.
Open Access
Cucurbit[7]uril-anchored porphyrin-based multifunctional molecular platform for photodynamic antimicrobial and cancer therapy
(American Chemical Society, 2019) Özkan, Melis; Kumar, Yogesh; Keser, Yağmur; Hadi, Seyed E.; Tuncel, Dönüş
Here we report a photoactive supramolecular assembly that is multifunctional and constructed by covalently linking four receptor molecules (cucurbit[7]uril) to a porphyrin derivative with suitable linkers. While this molecular platform serves very efficiently as a light-triggered broad-spectrum antibacterial agent, owing to its negligible dark cytotoxicity and the presence of host molecules (CB7), it can also be utilized as a vehicle to carry drug molecules for a combined chemo and photodynamic cancer therapy.
Open Access
Cucurbit[7]uril-capped hybrid conjugated oligomer-gold nanoparticles for combined photodynamic-photothermal therapy and cellular imaging
(ACS, 2020) Özkan, Melis; Tunç, İ.; Midilli, Y.; Ortaç, Bülend; Tuncel, Dönüş
Herein, hybrid nanoparticles composed of a redemitting conjugated oligomer (COL) and gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) were prepared through a one-pot synthetic method in which the oligomer acts as a reducing agent as well as a matrix to wrap the newly formed Au nanoparticles. These hybrid nanoparticles(COL-Au-NPs) exhibited photodynamic and photothermal activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. They were also proven to possess high photostability and thermal reversibility. Dark cytotoxicity of COL-Au-NPs toward pathogens and mammalian breast cancer cells (MCF-7) reduced significantly upon complexation with cucurbit[7]uril while preserving their light-induced cytotoxic activity when irradiated with a 915 nm laser for photothermal therapy and white light for photodynamic therapy, respectively. Furthermore, these nanoparticles have cellular imaging capability because of their intrinsic fluorescence characteristics and can be used in image-guided therapy.
Open Access
Cucurbituril-based supramolecular constructs for the diverse applications of nanomedicine
(2020-08) Özkan, Melis
The supramolecular chemistry of cucurbiturils (CBs) has been rapidly advancing to span wide range of nanomedicine applications including but not limited to pharmaceutical drug formulation and delivery, bio/medical imaging and sensing, cancer therapy, tissue engineering, development of antibacterial/antiviral agents and protein modification. Owing to unique recognition properties and low cytotoxicity, the supramolecular assemblies of CBs are particular promises for biomedicine tasks. Inspired by these developments, three multifunctional supramolecular constructs of CBs containing photoactive conjugated compounds were prepared to be utilized in nanomedicine applications covering antimicrobial and anticancer photodynamic therapy (PDT), combined PDT and photothermal therapy (PTT) for the inactivation of bacteria, drug delivery and cellular imaging. A stable rotaxane, namely [5]-rotaxane, based on photoactive alkynesubstituted porphyrin and azide-substituted stopper group was synthesized through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. Herein, cucurbit[6]uril (CB6) acts as both macrocycle and catalysis for the reaction and encapsulates formed triazole ring inside its cavity. [5]-rotaxane was further investigated and results revealed that it has ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) including singlet oxygens in high yield even under quite low fluence of light and short exposure time and this, in turn, renders it ideal photosensitizer which remains stable at physiological pH (7.4) for prolonged times. By taking the advantages of aforementioned properties, [5]-rotaxane was employed as a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as well as anticancer agent against human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) via visible-light-induced generation of ROS. [5]-rotaxane possess negligible dark cytotoxicity upon complexation with CB6 and it can afford efficacious PDT of cancer and infectious diseases caused by bacteria. Another multifunctional photoactive supramolecular assembly was built through covalently binding of four cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) molecules, functioning as receptor, to a tetraphenyl porphyrin core using suitable linkers. In addition to its light-promoted antibacterial property, here, main objective was to combine chemo- and photodynamic cancer therapy which makes this study novel. Presence of CB7, enables host-guest interactions with anticancer drug, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX), and therefore this system was used to carry drug molecules achieving synergistic PDT and chemotherapy. Finally, CB7-capped hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) made up of red-emitting conjugated oligomer (COL) and gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) were obtained through one-pot synthetic method. These hybrid NPs were found to own high photostability, thermal reversibility and high ROS generation capacity. Benefitting from these properties, combined photodynamic and photothermal killing efficiency of NPs towards Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was verified. Additionally, cellular imaging capability of them was shown owing to their inherently fluorescent characteristics and this feature could be utilized for image-guided PDT applications.
Open Access
Design and synthesis of monosaccharide functionalized conjugated polymers, polyrotaxanes and oligomers for biological applications
(2015-09) Soner, Esra Deniz
In this work, the design, synthesis and characterization of fluorescent, water-soluble, multivalent glycoconjugates for their potential applications in active-targetted cellular theranostics through receptor-mediated endocytosis are presented. Gluco-functionalized thiophene monomers are utilized for the pre-functionalized Suzuki coupling polymerization of glycopolythiophenes and glycopolythiophenerotaxanes. The pre-functionalized glycopolythiophenerotaxane synthesis route was designed to provide in situ complexation between boronic ester thiophene monomer and water-soluble macrocycle cucurbit[7]uril, for the Suzuki coupling with the glycothiophene monomer in water. Red emitting oligomers carrying azide groups were utilized for the synthesis of post-functionalized glycoconjugate oligomers. These functionalizations were carried through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (click reaction) between azide groups and alkyne-functionalized monosaccharides (mannose or glucose). Structural and photophysical properties of glycopolythiophenes were investigated through ¹H-NMR, UV-VIS, and Fluorescence Spectroscopy. Monomers in synthetic steps were analysed through ¹H-NMR, IR, and ¹³C-NMR. Structural, photophysical and morphological properties of red oligomers were investigated through ¹H-NMR, HRMS-TOF, DLS, SEM.
Open Access
The effect of cucurbit[n]uril on the solubility, morphology, and the photophysical properties of nonionic conjugated polymers in an aqueous medium
(2010) Tuncel, D.; Artar, M.; Hanay, S. B.
The effects of cucurbit[n]uril on the dissolution and the photophysical properties of nonionic conjugated polymers in water are described. For this purpose, a fluorine-based polymer, namely, poly[9,9-bis{6(N,N-dimethylamino) hexyl}fluorene-co-2,5-thienylene (PFT) was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic techniques including 1D and 2D NMR, UV-vis, fluorescent spectroscopy, and matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). For the first time, it was demonstrated that a nonionic conjugated polymer can be made soluble in water through an inclusion complex formation with CB8. The structure of the complex was elucidated by NMR experiments including 1H and selective 1D-NOESY. This complex emits green and is highly fluorescent with fluorescent quantum yield of 35%. In contrast, CB6 or water-soluble CB7 although they are chemically identical to CB8 do not have any effect on the dissolution and photophysical properties of PFT. By preparing a protonated version of PFT, the optical properties of PFT in methanol, protonated PFT and PFT@CB8 in water have been studied and compared. It was also observed that the morphology of the polymer PFT was affected by the presence of CB8. Thus CB8-assisted self-assembly of polymer chains leads to vesicles formation; these structures were characterized by DLS, AFM, SEM, and TEM fluorescent optical microscopy.
Open Access
Glycosylated porphyrin-cucurbituril conjugate for photodynamic inactivation of bacteria and doxorubicin carriage for anticancer drug delivery
(World Scientific Publishing, 2019-10) Özkan, Melis; Keser, Yağmur; Koç, Ahmet; Tuncel, Dönüş
Porphyrin derivatives are highly attractive in the construction of multifunctional molecular platforms with interesting properties and applications. In this regard, we report here the use of a multifunctional porphyrin-based molecular platform as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy and as a drug carrier. This molecular platform was constructed by conjugating a host molecule, cucurbit[7]uril to a triglycosylated tetraphenyl porphyrin and serves very efficiently as a photosensitizer in the inactivation of both gram-negative (Escherichia coli, E. coli) and gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, B. subtilis) and growth inhibition of cancer cells as well as a doxorubicin (DOX) carrier for chemo-photodynamic dual cancer therapy. Another remarkable feature of this photosensitizer is that it shows negligible cytotoxicity in the dark.
Open Access
In situ-Electrochemically reduced graphene oxide integrated with cross-linked supramolecular polymeric network for electrocatalytic hydrogen evaluation reaction
(Elsevier, 2021-08-26) Aoudi, Bouthaina; Khaligh, Aisan; Sheidaei, Yasaman; Tuncel, Dönüş
Herein, we report the synthesis of a new supramolecular polymeric network (PCN) assembled through crosslinking of propyl bromide substituted tetraphenyl porphyrin with perhydroxy-cucurbit [8]uril and its use in the electrocatalytic hydrogen evaluation reaction after loading with nickel and integrating with in situ-electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO). Electrode was prepared by first coating graphene oxide on the FTO substrate followed by layering the nickel loaded PCN and finally by applying an appropriate voltage to reduce the graphene oxide in situ electrochemical reaction. The loading of nickel cocatalyst into PCN together with the integration of ERGO layer substantially improved its HER efficiency. Effect of various concentrations of Ni and GO on the HER activity of the developed electrocatalyst were investigated. Therein, ERGO1/Ni2@PCN catalyst containing 41% Ni and 50% GO (with respect to PCN) with only one layer of each component demonstrated excellent HER activity and stability with low onset and overpotentials of −20 mV, η@10 mA cm−2 of −360 mV, respectively, and remarkable hydrogen generation rate of 27.5 mmol h−1 g−1 in 1 M KOH. This noble-metal-free catalytic system is simple yet highly promising for the efficient hydrogen evolution reaction from water splitting.
Open Access
Novel supramolecular photocatalyst based on conjugation of cucurbit[7]uril to non-metallated porphyrin for electrophotocatalytic hydrogen generation from water splitting
(WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, 2019) Kumar, Yogesh; Patil, Bhushan; Khaligh, Aisan; Hadi, Seyed E.; Uyar, Tamer; Tuncel, Dönüş
Visible‐light triggerable, stable, organic material‐based photocatalysts that can function in alkaline media without the necessity of sacrificial agent for hydrogen production are highly sought after. Here, we report a novel supramolecular photocatalyst that confers the aforementioned features. This supramolecular photocatalyst (TPP‐4CB7) is synthesized through the conjugation of monohydroxylated cucurbit(7)uril (CB7) hosts to a suitably substituted tetraphenyl porphyrin. Although TPP‐4CB7 by its own preforms as an efficient visible light triggered photocatalyst, the hydrogen production efficiency is significantly enhanced upon mixing with TiO2. The resulting nanocomposite (TPP‐CB‐TiO2@Pt) is observed to exhibit remarkable electrophotocatalytic activity under visible light and produces hydrogen (onset potential −10 mV, turn over frequency (TOF) 0.202 s−1, 24.5 mmol h−1 g−1) from water splitting without any significant degradation during four runs (5 h each) in alkaline media and in the absence of sacrificial agent.
Open Access
pH-triggered dethreading-rethreading and switching of cucurbit[6]uril on bistable [3]pseudorotaxanes and [3]rotaxanes
(2008) Tuncel, D.; Katterle, M.
A series of water-soluble [3]rotaxanes-(n+2) and [3]pseudorotaxanes-(n+2) with short (propyl, n=1) and long (dodecyl, n=10) aliphatic spacers have been prepared in high yields by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction catalyzed by cucurbit[6]uril (CB6). The pH-triggered dethreading and rethreading of CB6 on these pseudorotaxanes was monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy. A previously reported [3]rotaxane-12 that is known to behave as a bistable molecular switch has two recognition sites for CB6, that is, the diaminotriazole moieties and the dodecyl spacer. By changing the pH of the system, it is possible to observe more than one state in the shuttling process. At low pH values both CB6 units are located on the diaminotriazole moieties owing to an ion-dipole interaction, whereas at high pH values both of the CB6 units are located on the hydrophobic dodecyl spacer. Surprisingly, the CB6 units shuttle back to their initial state very slowly after reprotonation of the axle. Even after eighteen days at room temperature, only about 50 % of the CB6 units had relocated back onto the diaminotriazole moieties. The rate constants for the shuttling processes were measured as a function of temperature over the range from 313 to 333 K and the activation parameters (enthalpy, entropy, and free energy) were calculated by using the Eyring equation. The results indicate that this [3]rotaxane behaves as a kinetically controlled molecular switch. The switching properties of [3]rotaxane-3 have also been studied. However, even under extreme pH conditions this rotaxane has not shown any switching action, which confirms that the propyl spacer is too short to accommodate CB6 units.
Open Access
Sequence-specific self-sorting of the binding sites of a ditopic guest by cucurbituril homologues and subsequent formation of a hetero[4]pseudorotaxane
(2009) Celtek, G.; Artar, M.; Scherman, O. A.; Tuncel, D.
Ties us together: The selectivity and recognition behavior of cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]) homologues (n = 6,7,8) towards a ditopic guest containing two distinct binding sites is explored. CB6, CB7, and CB8 recognize and self-sort the binding sites according to their size, shape, and chemical nature. In the presence of both CB6 and CB8 a hetero[4]pseudorotaxane is formed. © 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.
Open Access
Supramolecular chemistry of cucurbit[n]uril homologues with a ditopic guest and light emitting conjugated polymers
(2011) Artar, Müge
The general objective of this thesis is to explore the ability of cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]) (n= 6,7,8) homologues to form nano-structured supramolecular assemblies with various organic guests through self-sorting, self-assembly and recognition. In the first part of the thesis, the selectivity and recognition properties of CB[n] homologues towards a ditopic guest have been investigated. The guest was synthesized through Cu(I)-catalyzed click reaction between the salts of N,N'-bis-(2- azido-ethyl)-dodecane-1,12-diamine and propargylamine and contain two chemically and geometrically distinct recognition sites, namely, a flexible and hydrophobic dodecyl spacer and a five-membered triazole ring terminated with ammonium ions. Complex formation between the guest and CB[6], CB[7] and CB[8] in the ratios of 1:2, 1:1 and 1:1, respectively, was confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. It was also revealed that CB[n] homologues have ability to self-sort and recognise the guests according to their chemical nature, size and shape. Kinetic formation of a hetero[4]pseudorotaxane via sequence-specific self-sorting was confirmed and controlled by the order of the addition. In the second part, the effect of CB[n] homologues on the dissolution and the photophysical properties of non-ionic conjugated polymers in water were investigated. A fluorene-based polymer, namely, poly[9,9-bis{6(N,N dimethylamino)hexyl}fluorene-co-2,5-thienylene (PFT) was synthesized via Suzuki coupling and characterization was performed by spectroscopic techniques including 1D and 2D NMR(Nuclear Magnetic Resonans), UV–vis, fluorescent spectroscopy, and matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS)(Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectroscopy ). The interaction of CB[6], CB[7] and CB[8] with PFT have been investigated and it was observed that only CB[8] among other CB homologues forms a water-soluble inclusion complex with PFT. Furthermore, upon complex formation a considerable enhancement in the fluorescent quantum yield of PFT in water was observed. The structure of resulting PFT@CB[8] complex was characterized through 1H-NMR and selective 1DNOESY(The Nuclear Overhauser Enhancement Spectroscopy) and further investigated by imaging techniques (e.g. AFM(Atomic Force Microscopy), SEM(Scanning Electron Microscopy), TEM(Transmission Electron Microscopy) and fluorescent optical microscopy) to reveal the morphology. The results suggested that through CB[8]-assisted self-assembly of PFT polymer chains vesicle-like nanostructures formed. The sizes of nanostructures were also determined using dynamic light scattering (DLS(Dynamic Light Scattering)) measurements.
Open Access
Synthesis and characterization of cucurbituril based photoactive multifunctional assemblies
(2019-01) Koç, Ahmet
Preparation of cucurbituril based functional materials and their use in various applications ranging from biomedicine to optoelectronics have been studied intensely over the last decade. Supramolecular assemblies, networks and nanostructures constructed through noncovalent interactions of cucurbiturils with -conjugated, photoactive compounds have also been investigated and potential applications in the areas of theranostics, imaging, sensing and catalysis have been shown. In these cucurbituril based architectures, however, cucurbituril is disabled to act as a molecular receptor since they do not involve the covalent conjugation of cucurbituril directly to chromophore. The main motivation of this study is to synthesize multifunctional assemblies and nanostructures in which cucurbituril is covalently attached to various conjugated compounds including porphyrin, conjugated oligomers and polymers. A new multifunctional porphyrin-cucurbituril conjugate based on a photoactive mannosylated porphyrin and monoporpargyloxycucurbit[7]uril was synthesized. Azido-functionalized tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) was used as a building block. TPP was first mannosylated by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), then a monoporpargyloxycucurbit[7]uril was covalently attached to the mannosylated TPP with a second CuAAC reaction. Singlet oxygen generation efficiency of the supramolecular assembly was measured and found to be significantly higher than that of unfunctionalized TPP. ¹H NMR experiments were performed using a suitable guest, bisimidazolium, to prove the availability of CB7 in the assembly as a host. Bisimidazolium guest was observed to form inclusion complex with CB7, which is a promising result for the potential use of this supramolecular assembly as a drug carrier in conjunction with photodynamic therapy. Conjugated oligomers and polymers were synthesized from suitably- functionalized monomers via Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and their characterizations were performed. Their assemblies and nanostructures with covalently attached functionalized cucurbiturils were investigated. Redox sensitive crosslinked conjugated oligomer nanoparticles (CONs) were synthesized from a conjugated oligomer, OFVBt-N3 and a disulfide bond- containing crosslinker via ultrasound-assisted copper-free click reaction in THF. These spherical and approximately 50 nm-sized CONs preserved their stability and size («60 nm) after dispersing them in water. The behavior of the CONs in the presence of glutathione (GSH) was studied in aqueous medium. It was observed that the CONs are rapidly disrupted by GSH, which is an effective SS bond cleaving biomolecule that is overexpressed in cancer cells. These results imply that when nanoparticles are loaded with an anticancer drug, targeted delivery of the drug to cancer cells can be achieved by cooperative action of enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and S-S bond cleavage by GSH.
Open Access
Synthesis of novel photoactive nanoparticles towards phototherapy
(2021-09) Duah, Ishmeal Kwaku
Nanomaterial-based compounds are attracting a lot of interest because many functionalities such as photoactive units, drugs and targeting groups can be combined on one platform to fight against infectious diseases and cancer. Recently, conjugated polymer-based nanomaterials have proven to be effective photosensitizers for antibacterial and photodynamic cancer therapies owing to their unique electronic and optical properties, including high singlet oxygen generation capacity, strong light-harvesting ability and its tunable optical spectrum. In this study, novel cross-linked conjugated polymer nanoparticles-based photosensitizers namely conjugated polymer-porphyrin nanoparticles (CPPN) and cross-linked conjugated polymer nanoparticles (PCP) were synthesized. The nanoparticles were prepared via nanoprecipitation using cucurbit[6]uril-(CB6)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CB6-AAC) reaction. Conjugated polymer-porphyrin nanoparticles (CPPN) are advantageous than micelles incorporating porphyrin systems. For micelles containing porphyrin systems, the phototherapy effect of the porphyrin can only be seen after the porphyrin is released by conditions such as a change in pH, which is not the case for conjugated polymer-porphyrin nanoparticles (CPPN). The nanoparticles demonstrated high reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation efficiency which is evident in the antibacterial and anticancer photodynamic therapy (PDT) experiments. From the antibacterial photodynamic therapy experiment, when Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, E. coli) and Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, B. Subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, S. aureus) bacteria were incubated with CPPN (20 µg/mL) and irradiated with white light (22 mW/cm2) for 10 min, more than 3.5-log reduction in colony-forming units (CFUs) was recorded for CPPN. Furthermore, when E. coli and B. subtilis were treated with PCP (24 µg/mL) and illuminated with light, about 3-log killing efficiency was recorded. However, in the dark, the nanoparticles demonstrated minimal dark cytotoxicity against the model bacteria. In addition, the anticancer photodynamic effect of CPPN and PCP on MCF-7 breast cancer cells was investigated. When MCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with PCP in the dark and under light irradiation, almost all cells were alive for both cases. It may be that PCP could not generate enough reactive oxygen species to kill the cells. When MCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with CPPN in the dark, the cell viability was 96% and upon irradiation with light for 20 minutes, the cell viability decreased to about 4%. Moreover, conjugated polymer-porphyrin-gold nanoparticles (CPPN-Au) and cross-linked conjugated polymer-gold nanoparticles (PCP-Au) nanoparticles were prepared, but due to the instability of the nanoparticles, they could not be used in phototherapy.
Open Access
Synthesis of oligomers, polymers and cucurbituril- based polyrotaxanes towards polymer light emitting diode and photodynamic therapy application
(2014-06) Idris, Muazzam
In the first part of this study, porphyrin-thiophene monomers, oligomers and polymer are synthesized for photodynamic therapy application. Water solubility and the ability of a photosensitizer to generate singlet oxygen for tumor destruction are important conditions for ideal photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy application. For this purpose, water soluble pendent groups are attached to the porphyrin monomers before coupling with thiophene monomer to form oligomers and polymer. The presence of sulfur atom in thiophene facilitates intersystem crossing due to spin-orbit coupling and thus will increase singlet oxygen generation. Consequently, the ability of singlet oxygen generation of the polymer is found to be higher than oligomers followed by monomers. In the second part of the thesis, the effects of cucurbit[n]uril on photophysical, electrochemical and thermal properties of ionic conjugated polymers in water are described. Conjugated polymers are well known for their interesting optical properties and are used in the area of light emitting diodes. However, their stacking nature reduces their fluorescent quantum yields and thus limits their further applications. If the interactions among the polymers chains are reduced or the polymer backbones are insulated in some means, the emission efficiency of the polymers could be enhanced. For this purpose, two different green emitting fluorene-thiophene based polymers (29 and 33) and their cucurbituril based polyrotaxanes counterparts (30 and 34) are synthesized through Suzuki Coupling. In both polyrotaxane 30 and 34, enhancement in optical properties was observed showing fluorescent quantum yields of 0.46 and 0.55 in water respectively comparing to polymers 29 and 33 which has only 0.10 and 0.35 in water respectively. Their optical and electroluminescent properties were further utilized by fabricating devices as multilayer white polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs). The synthesized molecules are characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, ESI mass spectrometry, UV-VIS, photoluminescence, time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, FT-IR, elemental analysis gel permeation chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis and cyclic voltammetry.