Porphyrin Derivative Nanoformulations for Therapy and Antiparasitic Agents

Porphyrins and analogous macrocycles exhibit interesting photochemical, catalytic, and luminescence properties demonstrating high potential in the treatment of several diseases. Among them can be highlighted the possibility of application in photodynamic therapy and antimicrobial/antiparasitic PDT, for example, of malaria parasite. However, the low efficiency generally associated with their low solubility in water and bioavailability have precluded biomedical applications. Nanotechnology can provide efficient strategies to enhance bioavailability and incorporate targeted delivery properties to conventional pharmaceuticals, enhancing the effectiveness and reducing the toxicity, thus improving the adhesion to the treatment. In this way, those limitations can be overcome by using two main strategies: (1) Incorporation of hydrophilic substituents into the macrocycle ring while controlling the interaction with biological systems and (2) by including them in nanocarriers and delivery nanosystems. This review will focus on antiparasitic drugs based on porphyrin derivatives developed according to these two strategies, considering their vast and increasing applications befitting the multiple roles of these compounds in nature.

Photon upconversion: from two-photon absorption (TPA) to triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA)

Recent advances and remaining challenges are presented in the areas of TPA/TTA-UC, with particular emphasis on molecular engineering of these two upconversion materials.

A new medium for triplet–triplet annihilated upconversion and photocatalytic application

The effect of an OH-containing medium on low power upconversion with high efficiency (about 36%) was determined in alcohol solvent containing beta-cyclodextrin.

Synthesis and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of meso-tetrakis(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin functionalized platinum nanocomposites

Meso-tetrakis(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS4) functionalized platinum nanocomposites were synthesized and characterized using ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis), fluorescence spectroscopy (FL), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. The postulated configuration of TPPS4 functionalized platinum nanocomposite may be described as an antenna system containing a photoreceptive TPPS4 shell and a nanosize platinum core. Fluorescence and photoelectrochemistry studies of both TPPS4 and the platinum nanocomposites showed that efficient electron/energy transfer occurred from the TPPS4 donor to the metallic nanocore acceptor. TPPS4 functionalized platinum nanocomposites are photocatalytic active for water reduction to produce hydrogen. The turnover numbers (TONPt and TONTPPS4) and quantum yield of hydrogen (ϕH2) for the photocatalyst (nPt:nTPPS4= 250) were 44, 11056, and 1.8%, respectively, calculated on the basis of the total amount of H2 evolution for 12 h irradiation.