Size selective supramolecular interaction upon molecular complexation of a designed porphyrin with C60 and C70 in solution

Host-Guest Mechanism via Induced Fit Fullerene Complexation in Porphin Receptor to Probe Salivary Alpha-Amylase in Dental Caries for Clinical Applications

Salivary α-amylase is the most abundant protein of human saliva that potentially binds to streptococcus and other bacteria via specific surface-exposed α-amylase-binding proteins and plays a significant role in caries development. The detection of α-amylase in saliva can be used as a bioindicator of caries development. Herein, a facile strategy has been applied, tailoring the photochemical properties of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-21H,23H-porphine (TPPOH) and the fullerene C60 complex. The fluorescence emission of TPPOH is quenched by starch-coated fullerene C60 via charge-transfer effects, as determined by UV absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies. The starch-coated C60 has been thoroughly characterized via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), optical microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), static water contact angle measurements, and zeta potential measurements. The analytical response of the assay showed a linear fluorescent response in α-amylase concentrations ranging from 0.001-0.1 Units/mL, with an LOD of 0.001 Units/mL. The applicability of the method was tested using artificial saliva with quantitative recoveries in the range 95-100%. The practicability of the procedure was verified by inspecting saliva samples of real clinical samples covering all age groups. We believe that the proposed method can serve as an alternative analytical method for caries detection and risk assessment that would also minimize the cost of professional preventive measures and treatments.

Supramolecular interaction of PCBM with porphyrins in solution: Photophysical insights

This work reports the self-assembly between [6,6]-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-21H,23H porphyrin (1)(and/2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-21H,23H porphyrin Zn(II) (2) in toluene. Ground state intermolecular interaction is evidenced from absorption spectrophotometric measurements. New absorption bands are observed in the visible region which may be identified due to charge transfer (CT). Several important physicochemical factors are enumerated for PCBM-1 and PCBM-2 systems. Fluorescence investigations elicit complex formation of PCBM with porphyrins (with both 1 and 2) and reveal considerable magnitude of binding constant (K) for PCBM-2 system, i.e., KPCBM-2 = 80,435 dm3⋅mol-1 compared to PCBM-1 system, i.e., KPCM-1 = 12,600 dm3·mol-1 as well as highly ratio of selectivity in binding (KPCBM-2/KPCBM-1 ∼ 6.4). Time resolved fluorescence experiments reveal that photoexcited decay from the excited singlet state of porphyrins (i.e., 1* and 2*) by PCBM is statically controlled compared to dynamic path. Magnitude of solvent reorganization energy indicates possibility of faster charge recombination in case of PCBM-2 system. Both 1H and 13C NMR measurements provide substantial support behind complexation of PCBM with porphyrins (both 1 and 2) in solution. Ab initio calculations in vacuo support the trend in K for PCBM-1 and PCBM-2 systems and establish the proper orientation of PCBM towards 1 (and/ 2) during complexation. Transient absorption measurements establish two different mode of energy transfer pathway from porphyrin to PCBM in toluene.

Donor-Acceptor Complexes of (5,10,15,20-Tetra(4-methylphenyl)porphyrinato)cobalt(II) with Fullerenes C60: Self-Assembly, Spectral, Electrochemical and Photophysical Properties

The noncovalent interactions of (5,10,15,20-tetra(4-methylphenyl)porphinato)cobalt(II) (CoTTP) with C60 and 1-N-methyl-2-(pyridin-4-yl)-3,4-fullero[60]pyrrolidine (PyC60) were studied in toluene using absorption and fluorescence titration methods. The self-assembly in the 2:1 complexes (the triads) (C60)2CoTTP and (PyC60)2CoTTP was established. The bonding constants for (C60)2CoTTP and (PyC60)2CoTTP are defined to be (3.47 ± 0.69) × 109 and (1.47 ± 0.28) × 1010 M-2, respectively. 1H NMR, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and cyclic voltammetry data have provided very good support in favor of efficient complex formation in the ground state between fullerenes and CoTTP. PyC60/C60 fluorescence quenching in the PyC60/C60-CoTTP systems was studied and the fluorescence lifetime with various CoTTP additions was determined. The singlet oxygen quantum yield was determined for PyC60 and the intensity decrease in the 1O2 phosphorescence for C60 and PyC60 with the CoTTP addition leading to the low efficiency of intercombination conversion for the formation of the 3C60* triplet excited state was found. Using femtosecond transient absorption measurements in toluene, the photoinduced electron transfer from the CoTTP in the excited singlet state to fullerene moiety was established. Quantum chemical calculations were used for the determination of molecular structure, stability and the HOMO/LUMO energy levels of the triads as well as to predict the localization of frontier orbitals in the triads.

Fullerene binding effects in Al(III)/Zn(II) Porphyrin/Phthalocyanine photophysical properties and charge transport

We evaluate the fullerene C₆₀ binding effect; through the metal (Al) and through the ligand (Pc,TPP), on the photophysical and charge transport properties of M-porphyrin(TPP)/phthalocyanine(Pc) (M = Al(III), Zn(II)). We perform density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations for the macrocycle-C₆₀ dyads, showing that all systems studied are thermodynamically favorable. The C₆₀ binding effect on the absorption spectrum is a red-shift of the Q and Soret (B) bands of TPPs and Pcs. The Pc-dyads show longer λ for Q bands (673 nm) than those with TPP (568 nm). AlTPP-C₆₀ and ZnTPP-C₆₀ show a more favorable electron injection to TiO₂ than the analogs Pcs, and the regeneration of the dye is preferred in AlTPP-C₆₀ and AlPc-C₆₀. Zero-bias conductance is computed (10^-4-10^-7 G₀) for the dyads using molecular junctions with Au(111)-based electrodes. When a bias voltage of around 0.6 V up to 1 V is applied, an increase in current is obtained for AlTPP-C₆₀ (10^-7 A), ZnTPP-C₆₀ (10^-7 A), and AlPc-C₆₀ (10^-8 A). Although there is not a unique trend in the behavior of the dyads, Pcs have better photophysical properties than TPPs and the latter are better in the charge transport. We conclude that AlTPP(ZnTPP)-C₆₀ dyads are an excellent alternative for designing new materials for dye-sensitized solar cells or optoelectronic devices.