Positive profile of natural small molecule organic matters on emerging antivirus pharmaceutical elimination in advance reduction process: A deep dive into the photosensitive mechanism of triplet excited state compounds

Natural small molecular organic matter (NSOM), ubiquitous in natural waters and distinct from humic acid or fulvic acid, is a special type of dissolved organic matter (DOM) which is characterized as strong photosensitivity and simple molecular structure. However, little study had been directed on the role of NSOM in eliminating emerging contaminants in advanced reduction process (ARP). This study took three small molecular isomeric organic acids (p-hydroxybenzoic acid, pHBA; salicylic acid, SA; m-hydroxybenzoic acid, mHBA) as the representative substances of NSOM to explore these mechanisms on promoting Ribavirin (RBV, an anti COVID-19 medicine) degradation in ultraviolet activated sulfite (UV/Sulfite) process. The results demonstrated that the observed degradation rate constant of RBV (kobs-RBV) was 7.56 × 10-6 s-1 in UV/Sulfite process, indicating that hydrated electron (eaq-) from UV/Sulfite process could not effectively degrade RBV, while it increased by 178 and 38 times when pHBA and SA were introduced into UV/Sulfite process respectively, suggesting that pHBA and SA strongly promoted RBV degradation while mHBA had no promotion on RBV abatement in UV/Sulfite process. Transient absorption spectra and reactive intermediates scavenging experiment indicated that the triplet excited state pHBA and SA (3pHBA* and 3SA*) contributed to the degradation of RBV through non-radical process. Notably, eaq- played the role of key initiator in transforming pHBA and SA into their triplet states. The difference of kobs-RBV in UV/Sulfite/pHBA and UV/Sulfite/SA process was attributed to different generation pathways of 3pHBA* and 3SA* (high molar absorptivity at the wavelength of 254 nm and photosensitive cycle, respectively) and their second order rate constants towards RBV (kRBV-3pHBA* = 8.60 × 108 M-1 s-1 and kRBV-3SA* = 6.81 × 107 M-1 s-1). mHBA could not degrade RBV for its lack of intramolecular hydrogen bond and low molar absorptivity at 254 nm to abundantly transform into its triplet state. kobs-RBV increased as pH increased from 5.0 to 11.0 in UV/Sulfite/SA process, due to the high yield of eaq- in alkaline condition which promoted the generation of 3SA* and the stable of the absorbance of SA at 254 nm. By contrast, kobs-RBV underwent a process of first increasing and then decreasing in UV/Sulfite/pHBA process as the increase of pH, and its highest value achieved in a neutral condition. This lied in the exposure of eaq- increased as the increase of pH which promoted the generation of 3pHBA*, while the molar absorptivity of pHBA at 254 nm decreased as the increase of pH in an alkaline condition which inhibited the yield of 3pHBA*. The RBV degradation pathways and products toxicity assessment indicated that UV/Sulfite/pHBA had better detoxification performance on RBV than UV/Sulfite/SA process. This study disclosed a novel mechanism of emerging contaminants abatement through non-radical process in NSOM mediated ARP, and provide a wide insight into positive profile of DOM in water treatment process, instead of only taking DOM as a quencher of reactive intermediates.

Unveiling the enhancement mechanisms of algogenic extracellular organic matters on chlortetracycline photodegradation: Constitutive relationships of compound components and reactive oxygen species generation

Algogenic extracellular organic matters (EOMs) have been found to play a crucial role in the photodegradation of antibiotics. However, the specific molecular structure compositions of EOMs have not been fully characterized, and the intrinsic association between the structure and the production of ROS remains unclear. In this study, EOMs from Chlorella Vulgaris were characterized using FT-ICR-MS. Based on the FT-ICR-MS results, nine representative model compounds (MCs, i.e., benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, glucose, l-glutamic, triglyceride, tannic and lignin) were applied to investigate the physicochemical properties of EOMs and the ROS changes induced by the photoreaction of chlortetracycline (CTC). With the help of quenching assays, nine MCs were classified into prone-ROS and non-prone-ROS fractions. Prone-ROS compounds generate O2- upon electron transfer to 3O2, which then produces ·OH after disproportionation to generate hydrogen peroxide. The formation of 1O2 is attributed to energy transfer from prone-ROS to 3O2. Density functional theory revealed that prone-ROS exhibited higher reactivity compared to non-prone-ROS, this finding is as well supported by the result of steady-state photolysis measurement. Our study gives a new insight into photochemical fate of CTC in aquatic environments, providing theoretical basis for assessing antibiotics' ecological risk accurately.

5-Deazaalloxazine as photosensitizer of singlet oxygen and potential redox-sensitive agent

Flavins are a unique class of compounds that combine the features of singlet oxygen generators and redox-dependent fluorophores. From a broad family of flavin derivatives, deazaalloxazines are significantly underdeveloped from the point of view of photophysical properties. Herein, we report photophysics of 5-deazaalloxazine (1a) in water, acetonitrile, and some other solvents. In particular, triplet excited states of 1a in water and in acetonitrile were investigated using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) transient absorption spectroscopy. The measured triplet lifetimes for 1a were all on the microsecond time scale (≈ 60 μs) in deoxygenated solutions. The quantum yield of S₁ → T₁ intersystem crossing for 1a in water was 0.43 based on T₁ energy transfer from 1a to indicaxanthin (5) acting as acceptor and on comparative actinometric measurements using benzophenone (6). 1a was an efficient photosensitizer for singlet oxygen in aerated solutions, with quantum yields of singlet oxygen in methanol of about 0.76, compared to acetonitrile ~ 0.74, dichloromethane ~ 0.64 and 1,2-dichloroethane ~ 0.54. Significantly lower singlet oxygen quantum yields were obtained in water and deuterated water (Ф_Δ ~ 0.42 and 0.44, respectively). Human red blood cells (RBC) were used as a cell model to study the antioxidant capacity in vitro and cytotoxic activity of 1a. Fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) data were analyzed by fluorescence lifetime parameters and distribution for different parts of the emission spectrum. Comparison of multidimensional fluorescent properties of RBC under physiological-like and oxidative-stress conditions in the presence and absence of 1a suggests its dual activity as probe and singlet-oxygen generator and opens up a pathway for using FLIM to analyze complex intracellular behavior of flavin-like compounds. These new data on structure-property relationship contribute to the body of information required for a rational design of flavin-based tools for future biological and biochemical applications.

Singlet oxygen and radical-mediated mechanisms in the oxidative cellular damage photosensitized by the protease inhibitor simeprevir

Hepatitis C, a liver inflammation caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), is treated with antiviral drugs. In this context, simeprevir (SIM) is an NS3/4A protease inhibitor used in HCV genotypes 1 and 4. It is orally administered and achieves high virological cure rates. Among adverse reactions associated with SIM treatment, photosensitivity reactions have been reported. In the present work, it is clearly shown that SIM is markedly phototoxic, according to the in vitro NRU assay using BALB/c 3T3 mouse fibroblast. This result sheds light on the nature of the photosensitivity reactions induced by SIM in HCV patients, suggesting that porphyrin elevation in patients treated with SIM may not be the only mechanism responsible for SIM-associated photosensitivity. Moreover, lipid photoperoxidation and protein photooxidation assays, using human skin fibroblasts (FSK) and human serum albumin (HSA), respectively, reveal the capability of this drug to promote photodamage to cellular membranes. Also, DNA photo lesions induced by SIM are noticed through comet assay in FSK cells. Photochemical and photobiological studies on the mechanism of SIM-mediated photodamage to biomolecules indicate that the key transient species generated upon SIM irradiation is the triplet excited state. This species is efficiently quenched by oxygen giving rise to singlet oxygen, which is responsible for the oxidation of lipids and DNA (Type II mechanism). In the presence of HSA, the photobehavior is dominated by binding to site 3 of the protein, to give a stable SIM@HSA complex. Inside the complex, quenching of the triplet excited state is less efficient, which results in a longer triplet lifetime and in a decreased singlet oxygen formation. Hence, SIM-mediated photooxidation of the protein is better explained through a radical (Type I) mechanism.

Enhanced MnO2 oxidation of methotrexate through self-sensitized photolysis

MnO₂, which is ubiquitous in soil and sediment in natural water environments, may play an important role in the photolysis of contaminants by sunlight, but the interactions between MnO₂ and contaminants in aqueous environments under sunlight irradiation have not been investigated. In this study, the simultaneous presence of sunlight and MnO₂ significantly enhanced the degradation efficiency of methotrexate (MTX). Accordingly, we hypothesized that the overall enhancement of this synergistic reaction is due to the additional production of Mn(III) via MTX self-sensitized photolysis. The pseudo-first-order kinetic model for the photoreaction of MTX with MnO₂ (Light/MTX+MnO₂) during the initial reaction kinetics (0-2 h) revealed a rate constant of 0.43 h¹ ([MTX] = 20 μM, [MnO₂] = 200 μM, and pH = 7), which is faster than that obtained with sunlight alone (0.14 h¹) or MnO₂ alone; Mn(II) and Mn(III) were formed at concentrations of 24.3 ± 1.0 μM and 14.8 ± 1.4 μM, respectively. Dissolved Mn(III) species were identified as the main oxidant species responsible for the degradation of MTX. Two reaction pathways for the production of Mn(III) through Light/MTX+MnO₂ were proposed; MTX acts as a photosensitizer to produce ³MTX* responsible for the reduction of MnO₂ to Mn(III), whereas O₂^• participates in the oxidation of Mn(Ⅱ) to Mn(Ⅲ). Byproduct analysis demonstrated that the Mn(III) generated in the Light/MTX+MnO₂ system enhances C－N bond cleavage, ketonization, and hydrolysis pathways in the MTX transformation.

Effects of low-molecular-weight polyols on the hydration status of the light-harvesting complex 2 from Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1

Low-molecular-weight (MW) polyols are organic osmolytes influencing water activity. We have investigated the effects of polyol molecules (glycerol and sorbitol) on the optical and triplet excitation dynamics of light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2) from Rhodobacter (Rba.) sphaeroides in buffer-detergent solutions. The resonance Raman spectroscopy demonstrated that, on increasing glycerol and sorbitol volume fractions ranging from 0 to 80% (v/v) (accompanied by the decreasing water activities), the planar and all-trans conformation of carotenoids (Crts) remained unchanged, and the bacteriochlorophyll a (BChl) Q_y absorption intensity decreased. The B850 fluorescence amplitude elevated in the 20-80% v/v sorbitol and 20-40% v/v glycerol solution, but decreased in 80% v/v glycerol solution. The change of ³[Crt*-BChl] interaction bands caused by ³Crt*-BChl interaction had no obvious correlation with water activities against polyol volume fractions, which are rationalized by the water activity sensitive of C- and N-termini of protein which binding with BChls. The results suggest that Rba. sphaeroides LH2 is more sensitive to low-molecular-weight polyols compared with that of the thermophiles purple bacterium Thermochromatium (Tch.) tepidum we had investigated before.

Spectroscopic characterization of dipicolinic acid and its photoproducts as thymine photosensitizers

Dipicolinic acid (DPA), present in large amount in bacterial spores, has been proposed to act as an endogenous photosensitizer in spore photoproduct formation. The proposed mechanism involves a triplet-triplet energy transfer from DPA to thymine. However, up to now, no spectroscopic studies have been performed to determine the interaction between the endogenous compound and the nucleobase, probably due to its photolability in aqueous solutions. Here, triplet excited state properties of DPA are reported together with its bimolecular quenching rate constant by thymidine, k_q of ca. 5.3 × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1. To run more reliable studies, a stable methyl ester derivative of DPA, which exhibits the same spectroscopic properties as the parent compound, is also described. Finally, DPA photoproducts are characterized. Studies of their triplet excited state properties have demonstrated that, interestingly, one of them is able to photosensitize thymidine triplet excited state formation.

Trans Influence and Substituent Effects on the HOMO-LUMO Energy Gap and Stokes Shift in Ru Mono-Diimine Derivatives

The ground (S0) and excited triplet (T1) electronic states and corresponding optical spectra of a series of cationic complexes [RuH(CO)L(PPh3)2]+ (L=2,2´-bipyridyl) (Rubpy), 4,4´-dicarboxylic-2,2´-bipyridyl (Rudcbpy), bis-4,4'-(N-methylamide)-2,2´-bipyridyl (Rudamidebpy), bis-4,4'-(methyl)-2,2´-bipyridyl (RudMebpy), [Ru(CO)2dcbpy(PPh3)2]2+ (Ru(2CO)dcbpy), and [Ru(H)2dcbpy(PPh3)2] (Ru(2H)dcbpy) have been studied by combined Density Functional/Time-Dependent Density Functional (DFT/TDDFT) techniques using different combinations of DFT exchange-correlation functionals and basis sets. PBE0/LANL2DZ provided more accurate geometries to describe S0 whereas B3LYP/LANL2DZ predicted spectral energies that correlated better with the available experiment data. The Ru (II) complexes with different substituents emit photons ranging from 560-610 nm in the series RudMebpy, Rubpy, Rudamidebpy, Rudcbpy. The calculations predicted a maximum emission at about 540 nm for the complex constructed from two carbonyl π-acceptors ligands trans to the dcbpy, while an emission in the far infrared region is calculated when two H σ-donor ligands trans to the dcbpy. Our calculation results show correlations between HOMO-LUMO energy gap, Stokes shift, and T1 distortion, which reflect the different effects of electron-withdrawing and donating groups. We proposed that these correlations can be used to predict the photophysical properties for new complexes.

A comprehensive investigation of aqueous-phase photochemical oxidation of 4-ethylphenol

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) species formed in atmospheric aqueous phases is recently recognized as an important contributor to fine aerosols, which is known to be a prominent human health risk factor internationally. This work, for the first time, systematically investigated aqueous-phase photochemical oxidation of 4-ethylphenol (4-EP) - a model compound from biomass burning and a surrogate of intermediate volatility organic compounds, under both ultraviolet (UV) (Hg lamp) and simulated sunlight (Xe lamp). We found that 4-EP could degrade upon hydroxal radical (OH) oxidation under UV light nearly 15 times faster than that under simulated sunlight, but large aqueous SOA (aqSOA) yields (108%-122%) were observed under both situations. AqSOA masses and oxidation states continuously increased under simulated sunlight, yet they increased first then decreased quickly under UV light. We proposed a reaction scheme based on identified products, showing that oligomerization, functionalization and fragmentation all can occur during 4-EP oxidation. Our results demonstrate that OH radical may suppress oligomerization and functionalization, but is favorable for fragmentation. Under UV light with H₂O₂ (high OH), fragmentation was dominant, producing more volatile and smaller molecules, and less aqSOA in later oxidation; Under simulated sunlight with H₂O₂ (moderate OH), functionalization that can form hydroxylated monomer was more important. Moreover, 4-EP oxidation by the organic triplet excited state (³C*) could form species with stronger visible light absorptivity than those from OH-mediated oxidation, and the absorptivity showed positive link with contents of humic-like substances.

Mechanism and pathways underlying the self-sensitized photodegradation of methotrexate under simulated solar irradiation

Methotrexate, a chemotherapeutic agent, was found to undergo self-sensitized photodegradation in aqueous environments. As the initial concentration increased, methotrexate was able to enhance its own direct photolysis reaction not only in DI but also in natural waters. The methotrexate degradation rate increased through the production of singlet oxygen (¹O₂), the triplet excited state of methotrexate (³MTX^*), and the triplet excited state of the pteridine structure (³PT^*) from the phototransformation byproducts. At low methotrexate concentrations (<20 ppb), ¹O₂ played an important role, whereas at higher methotrexate concentrations (>2000 ppb), the presence of oxygen decreased the overall methotrexate degradation rate by physically quenching ³MTX^* and ³PT^*. The cleavage of the CN bond resulted in a significant amount of byproducts: pteridine derivatives and N-(4-aminobenzoyl)-l-glutamic acid (yields: 13.5 ± 0.6% and 32.3 ± 2.2% for 10 ppm and 500 ppb MTX, respectively). The reactivity of the phototransformation byproducts and the substructures of methotrexate were investigated to help elucidate the proposed self-sensitized pathways. The results indicated that methotrexate as well as compounds containing a pteridine structure will generate pteridine byproducts during photodegradation and ³PT^* is the primary triplet excited species that can cause self-sensitized photodegradation.

Riboflavin-induced Type 1 photo-oxidation of tryptophan using a high intensity 365 nm light emitting diode

The mechanism of photo-oxidation of tryptophan (Trp) sensitized by riboflavin (RF) was examined employing high concentrations of Trp and RF, with a high intensity 365 nm light emitting diode (LED) source under N₂, 20% and 100% O₂ atmospheres. Dimerization of Trp was a major pathway under the N₂ atmosphere, though this occurred with a low yield (^Dφ_Trp = 5.9 × 10^-3), probably as a result of extensive back electron transfer reactions between RF^•- and Trp(H)^•+. The presence of O₂ decreased the extent of this back electron transfer reaction, and the extent of Trp dimerization. This difference is attributed to the formation of O₂^•- (generated via electron transfer from RF^•- to O₂) which reacts rapidly with Trp^• leading to extensive consumption of the parent amino acid and formation of peroxides and multiple other oxygenated products (N-formylkynurenine, alcohols, diols) of Trp, as detected by LC-MS. Thus, it appears that the first step of the Type 1 mechanism of Trp photo-oxidation, induced by this high intensity 365 nm light source, is an electron transfer reaction between the amino acid and ³RF, with the presence of O₂ modulating the subsequent reactions and the products formed, as a result of O₂^•- formation. These data have potential biological significance as LED systems and RF-based treatments have been proposed for the treatment of pathological myopia and keratitis.

Direct detection of the triphenylpyrylium-derived short-lived intermediates in the photocatalyzed degradation of acetaminophen, acetamiprid, caffeine and carbamazepine

Advanced oxidation processes are useful methodologies to accomplish abatement of contaminants; however, elucidation of the reaction mechanisms is hampered by the difficult detection of the short-lived primary key species involved in the photocatalytic processes. Nevertheless, herein the combined use of an organic photocatalyst such as triphenylpyrylium (TPP⁺) and photophysical techniques based on emission and absorption spectroscopy allowed monitoring the photocatalyst-derived short-lived intermediates. This methodology has been applied to the photocatalyzed degradation of different pollutants, such as acetaminophen, acetamiprid, caffeine and carbamazepine. First, photocatalytic degradation of a mixture of the pollutants showed that acetaminophen was the most easily photodegraded, followed by carbamazepine and caffeine, being the abatement of acetamiprid almost negligible. This process was accompanied by mineralization, as demonstrated by trapping of carbon dioxide using barium hydroxide. Then, emission spectroscopy measurements (steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence) allowed demonstrating quenching of the singlet excited state of TPP⁺. Laser flash photolysis experiments with absorption detection showed that oxidation of contaminants is accompanied by TPP⁺ reduction, with formation of a pyranyl radical (TPP), that constituted a fingerprint of the redox nature of the occurring process. The relative amounts of TPP detected was also correlated with the efficiency of the photodegradation process.

Direct detection of the triphenylpyrylium-derived short-lived intermediates in the photocatalyzed degradation of acetaminophen, acetamiprid, caffeine and carbamazepine

Advanced oxidation processes are useful methodologies to accomplish abatement of contaminants; however, elucidation of the reaction mechanisms is hampered by the difficult detection of the short-lived primary key species involved in the photocatalytic processes. Nevertheless, herein the combined use of an organic photocatalyst such as triphenylpyrylium (TPP⁺) and photophysical techniques based on emission and absorption spectroscopy allowed monitoring the photocatalyst-derived short-lived intermediates. This methodology has been applied to the photocatalyzed degradation of different pollutants, such as acetaminophen, acetamiprid, caffeine and carbamazepine. First, photocatalytic degradation of a mixture of the pollutants showed that acetaminophen was the most easily photodegraded, followed by carbamazepine and caffeine, being the abatement of acetamiprid almost negligible. This process was accompanied by mineralization, as demonstrated by trapping of carbon dioxide using barium hydroxide. Then, emission spectroscopy measurements (steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence) allowed demonstrating quenching of the singlet excited state of TPP⁺. Laser flash photolysis experiments with absorption detection showed that oxidation of contaminants is accompanied by TPP⁺ reduction, with formation of a pyranyl radical (TPP), that constituted a fingerprint of the redox nature of the occurring process. The relative amounts of TPP detected was also correlated with the efficiency of the photodegradation process.

Insights into photolytic mechanism of sulfapyridine induced by triplet-excited dissolved organic matter

The ubiquity of sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs) in natural waters urges insights into their fate for ecological risk assessment in the aqueous euphotic zone. In this study, we investigated the effect of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the photolysis of SAs with sulfapyridine as a reprentative. Results show that excited triplet state DOM ((3)DOM(∗)) is largely responsible for the photodegradation of sulfapyridine. The reaction of (3)DOM(∗) with a substructure model compound of SAs confirmed that sulfapyridine has one reaction site (aniline-N). Density functional theory (DFT) calculation was performed, which indicates that the anionic sulfapyridine has higher (3)DOM(∗) reactivity than that of the neutral form, which was also confirmed by steady state photolytic experiments. In the reaction, electrons of the aniline-N transfer to the carbonyl oxygen atom of (3)DOM(∗) moiety, followed by proton transfer, and leading to the formation of sulfapyridine radicals. The photolytic mechansim of sulfapyridine initiated by (3)DOM(∗) is helpful in understanding the photochemical fate and assessing the ecological risks of SAs in the aquatic environment.

Photochemistry of excited-state species in natural waters: a role for particulate organic matter

Laser flash photolysis (LFP) was used to characterize a triplet excited state species isolated from Black River and San Joaquin wetlands particulate organic matter (POM). The solubilized organic matter, isolated from POM by pH-independent diffusion in distilled water, was named PdOM. UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMs), and (1)H NMR were used to characterize the PdOM. While LFP of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is known to generate the solvated electron, LFP of the PdOM transient in argon-, air-, and nitrous oxide-saturated solutions indicated that this was a triplet excited state species ((3)PdOM*). The lifetime and the reactivity of (3)PdOM* with sorbic acid, a triplet state quencher, were compared with that of the triplet excited state of benzophenone, a DOM proxy. A second excited state species (designated DOM*), with a longer lifetime, was reported in a number of previous studies but not characterized. The lifetime of DOM*, measured for seventeen organic matter isolates, lignin, tannic acid, and three wetlands plant extracts, was shown to differentiate allochthonous from autochthonous DOM. (3)POM* and DOM* were also observed in lake water and a constructed wetlands' water. Aqueous extracts of fresh and aged plant material from the same wetland were shown to be one source of these excited state species. This study provides evidence of a role for POM in the photochemistry of natural and constructed wetland waters.