Cucurbit[7]uril-anchored porphyrin-based multifunctional molecular platform for photodynamic antimicrobial and cancer therapy

Abstract

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.