Singlet Oxygen Production upon Two-Photon Excitation of TiO2in Chloroform

Carbon-based dot nanoclusters with enhanced roles of defect states in the fluorescence and singlet oxygen generation

Carbon-based dot nanoclusters for red emission and high yield singlet oxygen generation are reported for the first time.

Electron transfer from plant phenolates to carotenoid radical cations. Antioxidant interaction entering the Marcus theory inverted region

β-Carotene, lycopene, and zeaxanthin are maximally regenerated by plant phenolates from their radical cations formed during laser flash photolysis in 9:1 (v/v) chloroform/methanol for a driving force corresponding to the reorganization energy according to the Marcus theory. For β-carotene, the reorganization energy has values of 0.41 ± 0.04 and 0.40 ± 0.04 eV for the plant phenols in the presence of 1 and 2 equiv of base, respectively, at 23 °C. For a driving force lower than the reorganization energy, regeneration of the carotenoids is less efficient as is seen for m-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, and p-coumaric acid. For a driving force above the maximum rate as determined to have kET = 6.3 × 10(9) L·mol(-1)·s(-1) for syringic acid and β-carotene, the reaction becomes gradually slower and regeneration less efficient as is seen for the more reducing caffeic acid, rutin, and quercetin corresponding to an inverted region for the rate of electron transfer. Lycopene and zeaxanthin show a similar behavior for the same series of plant phenols with slightly lower reorganization energy, in agreement with the lower reduction potential of their radical cations, while, for the ketocarotenoids astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, fast reactions with a solvent of radical cations inhibit regeneration from being detected. Intermediate reducing plant phenols accordingly yield maximal protection of carotenoids against photobleaching in foods and beverages.

Synthesis, photophysical properties and photocatalytic activity of tungsten porphyrin (TPPWCl4)

Although tungsten porphyrins are known as mimicking models in biology, only a few papers about its chemical properties have been reported, the rarity of studies being attributed to the difficulties encountered in their synthesis due to their low stability. In this paper 5,10,15,20-tetra-p-phenyl-porphyrin tungsten(VI) chlorine (TPPWCl4) was studied, this metallo-porphyrin characterized by different analytical techniques: UV-vis, FTIR, ESR, mass spectrometry, including photophysical determination of its singlet oxygen quantum yield, too. Its photodegradation reaction with the mechanism and species involved into this destruction reaction processes is discussed, too. Also, in order to maintain its photostability, TPPWCl4has been incorporated into solid substrates, such as ZnO and TiO2, and these composites were subsequently tested in the photooxidation reaction of isoamylenes (2-methyl-2-butene and 2-methyl-1-butene mixture).

Photostability of phosphonate-derivatized, Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes on metal oxide surfaces

The photostability of [Ru(II)(bpy)(2)(4,4'-(PO(3)H(2))(2)bpy)]Cl(2) (bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine) on nanocrystalline TiO(2) and ZrO(2) films was investigated using a standard measurement protocol. Stability was evaluated by monitoring visible light absorbance spectral changes, in real time, during 455 nm photolysis (30 nm fwhm, 475 mW/cm(2)) in a variety of conditions relevant to dye-sensitized solar cells and dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells. Desorption (k(des)) and photochemical (k(chem)) processes were observed and found to be dependent upon solvent, anion, semiconductor, and presence of oxygen. Both processes are affected by oxygen with k(des) and k(photo) noticeably smaller in argon saturated solution. Desorption was strongly solvent and pH dependent with desorption rates increasing in the order: methanol (MeOH) ≈ acetonitrile (MeCN) < propylene carbonate (PC) < pH 1 ≪ pH 7. Photochemistry occurred in MeOH and PC but not in aqueous, 0.1 M HClO(4) and MeCN. The anion and solvent dependence of k(photo) strongly suggests the photoreaction involves ligand substitution initiated by population of metal centered d-d states. The relative stability of -PO(3)H(2)- versus -COOH-substituted [Ru(II)(bpy)(3)](2+) was also quantitatively established.

Quantification of Thiopurine/UVA-Induced Singlet Oxygen Production

Thiopurines were examined for their ability to produce singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) with UVA light. The target compounds were three thiopurine prodrugs, azathioprine (Aza), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and 6-thioguanine (6-TG), and their S-methylated derivatives of 6-methylmercaptopurine (me6-MP) and 6-methylthioguanine (me6-TG). Our results showed that these thiopurines were efficient (1)O(2) sensitizers under UVA irradiation but rapidly lost their photoactivities for (1)O(2) production over time by a self-sensitized photooxidation of sulfur atoms in the presence of oxygen and UVA light. The initial quantum yields of (1)O(2) production were determined to be in the range of 0.30-0.6 in aqueous solutions. Substitution of a hydrogen atom with a nitroimidazole or methyl group at S decreased the efficacy of photosensitized (1)O(2) production as found for Aza, me6-MP and me6-TG. (1)O(2)-induced formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-dexyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) was assessed by incubation of 6-methylthiopurine/UVA-treated calf thymus DNA with human repair enzyme 8-oxodGuo DNA glycosylase (hOGG1), followed by apurinic (AP) site determination. Because more 8-oxodGuo was formed in Tris D(2)O than in Tris H(2)O, (1)O(2) is implicated as a key species in the reaction. These findings provided quantitative information on the photosensitization efficacy of thiopurines and to some extent revealed the correlations between photoactivity and phototoxicity.

Synthesis and photophysics of an octathioglycosylated zinc(II) phthalocyanine

A water soluble zinc(II) phthalocyanine symmetrically appended with eight thioglucose units was synthesized from commercially available hexadecafluorophthalocyaninatozinc(II) by controlled nucleophilic substitution of the peripheral fluoro groups. The photophysical properties and cancer cell uptake studies of this nonhydrolyzable thioglycosylated phthalocyanine are reported. The new compound has amphiphilic character, is chemically stable, and can potentially be used as a photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy.

Imidazole-modified porphyrin as a pH-responsive sensitizer for cancer photodynamic therapy

5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(N-(2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethyl)benzamide)porphyrin produced twice as many singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) molecules at pH 5.0 (quantum yield 0.53 ± 0.01) than at pH 7.4, whereas the (1)O(2) quenching rate was reduced by a factor of 2.5 for a pH change from 7.4 to 5.0.

Preparation of TiO2 anatase nanocrystals by TiCl4 hydrolysis with additive H2SO4

A new methodology was developed to synthesize uniform titania anatase nanocrystals by the hydrolysis of titanium chloride in sulfuric acid aqueous solutions at 0-90°C. The samples were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (ED), and an Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The effects of the reaction temperature, mole ratio of SO(4)(2-) to Ti(4+), and the calcinations temperature on the particle size and crystal phase were investigated. Depending on the acidity, the hydrolysis temperature, and the calcination temperature, rhombic anatase nanocrystals sizes in the range of 10 nm to 50 nm were obtained. In the additive of sulfuric acid, Raman spectra and electron diffraction confirmed that the nanoparticles are composed of anatase TiO(2). No other titania phases, such as rutile or brookite, were detected.

Direct observation and quantitative characterization of singlet oxygen in aqueous solution upon UVA excitation of 6-thioguanines

The incorporation of 6-thioguanine (6-TG) into DNA increases the risk of (1)O(2)-initiated skin cancer. We herein provide the first report on quantitative characterization of the photoactivity of 6-thioguanines including 6-TG and 6-thioguanosine. Time-resolved singlet oxygen luminescence was observed directly for the first time after UVA irradiation of 6-thioguanines in both CHCN(3) and aqueous solutions. Their photosensitization was characterized by the quantum yield of singlet oxygen production, showing a dramatic decrease over time from the initial 0.49-0.58 to zero. Experiments performed on both 6-TG and 6-thioguanosine did not show any significant difference in the quantum yield of singlet oxygen production, indicating that there was no potential participation of 7H- and 9H-tautomers. Our findings provide a primary basis for a better understanding of molecular events of thiopurine drugs in biological systems.

pH-responsive, TiO2-attached porphyrin for singlet oxygen production in an aqueous solution

A pH-responsive, TiO2-attached sensitizer was prepared based on the adsorption of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) onto TiO2 nanoparticles. This colloidally dispersed TiO2-attached TCPP behaves as a single-phase colloidal sensitizer at pH 1.0-3.3 with quantum yields of singlet oxygen production (Phi(Delta)) between 0.20 and 0.25, as a heterogeneous particle sensitizer at pH 3.5-6.0 with Phi(Delta) between 0.25 and 0.50, and as homogeneous free TCPP molecules in alkaline solutions with Phi(Delta) = 0.53. The changes in Phi(Delta) are fully consistent with pH-dependent adsorption of TCPP onto the TiO2 surface. Recovery yields of 99.8% for TCPP and 98.8% for TiO2 were obtained from 1.4 mM TiO2-attached TCPP. We attribute its photosensitization ability to retaining TCPP solubility on the TiO2 surface and, hence, activity. This novel system shows a potential to bridge the gap between easily recoverable and highly efficient sensitizers.