Evaluation of metallophthalocyanine functionalized photocatalytic asymmetric polymer membranes for pollution control and antimicrobial activity
- Authors: Mafukidze, Donovan Musizvinoda Chidyamurimi
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Photosensitizing compounds , Water -- Purification -- Photocatalysis , Phthalocyanines , Polymeric membranes , Porphyrins
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171357 , vital:42052 , 10.21504/10962/171357
- Description: The conceptualisation of photosensitizing water treatment polymer membranes using phthalocyanine based photosensitizers is reported in this thesis. The key to successful preparation of stable photoactive polymer membranes was established as the covalent anchorage of the photosensitizer to a polymer, which was proven by singlet oxygen generation by the membranes without photosensitizer deterioration. Despite this limitation, the covalent linkage-incapable unsubstituted zinc (II) phthalocyanine (complex 2) was applied as a nanoconjugate of graphene quantum dots (2π(GQDs)). 2π(GQDs) was formed through π-π stacking, and was then covalently anchored, as a proof of concept. This concept was also applied to 2-(4-carboxyphenoxy) phthalocyaninato zinc (II) (complex 3) which is capable of covalent linkage but proved to deteriorate the efficiency of singlet oxygen formation with comparison to the covalent conjugates. Singlet oxygen generation by functionalized polymer membranes rendered them photocatalytic in the degradation of organic pollutants and microorganisms in water. Organic pollutant degradation capability was exemplified by 2π(GQDs) and a porphyrin-phthalocyanine heterodyad (complex 10) functionalized membranes (2π(GQDs)-memb and 10-memb respectively), where a MPc loading of approximately 0.139 μmol MPc/g of membrane was able to achieve a 4-chlorophenol degradation rate of 3.77 × 10−6 mol L−1 min−1 in a second order reaction with an initial 4-chlorophenol concentration of 3.24 × 10−4 mol L−1 for 2π(GQDs)-memb as an example. Antibacterial studies against S.aureus using a quaternized MPc and conjugates of silver triangular nanoprisms with zinc (II) and indium (III) MPcs showed note-worthy improvements in photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) activity in comparison to the unquaternized MPc precursor, and the free zinc and indium MPcs respectively. Functionalization of polymer membranes with these higher activity photosensitizers translated to the formation of potentially superior biological fouling resistant membranes. The use of porphyrin-phthalocyanine polynuclei arrays (complex 10) in polymer membrane functionalization resulted in the use of a wider wavelength range (white light). The findings from this work as a whole, thus presents the potential applicability of phthalocyanine functionalized polymer membranes in water treatment technology.
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- Date Issued: 2021
BODIPY dyes for singlet oxygen and optical limiting applications
- Authors: Harris, Jessica
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Photosensitizing compounds , Active oxygen -- Physiological effect , Photochemotherapy , Cancer -- Treatment , Nonlinear optics , BODIPY (Boron-dipyrromethene)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/58002 , vital:27014
- Description: A series of structurally related BODIPY dyes were synthesised and characterised. Their photophysical properties were studied in order to determine whether they would be suitable candidates for use as photosensitisers in the photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment of cancer. The synthesis of two highly fluorescent BODIPY cores was achieved via the acid-catalysed condensation of a pyrrole and a functionalised aldehyde. In order to promote intersystem crossing, and hence improve the singlet oxygen generation of these dyes, bromine atoms were added at the 2,6-positions of the BODIPY core. These dibrominated analogues showed good singlet oxygen quantum yields, and excellent photostability in ethanol. In order to red-shift the main spectral bands of the BODIPY dyes towards the therapeutic window, vinyl/ styryl groups were introduced at the 3-, 5-, and 7-positions via a modified Knoevengal condensation reaction. The addition of vinyl/ styryl groups to the BODIPY core caused an increase in fluorescence quantum yield as well as a decrease in singlet oxygen quantum yield with respect to the dibrominated analogues. However, two of the red-shifted BODIPY dyes still showed moderate singlet oxygen quantum yields. The use of BODIPY dyes in nonlinear optics (NLO) was explored. The nonlinear optical characterisations and optical limiting properties of a series of 3,5-dithienylenevinylene BODIPY dyes were studied, both in dimethylformamide (DMF) solution and when embedded in poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PBC) as thin films. The 3,5-dithienylenevinylene BODIPY dyes showed typical nonlinear absorption behaviour, with reverse saturable absorption (RSA) profiles, indicating that they have potential as optical limiters. The second-order hyperpolarizability (Y), and third-order nonlinear susceptibility (/m[/(3)]) values are also reported for these dyes. The optical limiting values of one of the BODIPY dyes in solution, and two of the BODIPY-embedded PBC films, were below the maximum threshold of 0.95 J-cm-2. The effect of addition of substituents on the electronic structure of the BODIPY dyes was investigated using TD-DFT calculations. The calculated trends closely followed those determined experimentally.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Photosensitizer, pH sensing and optical limiting properties of BODIPY dyes
- Authors: May, Aviwe Khanya
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Dyes and dyeing -- Chemistry , Halogenation , Photochemotherapy , Bromination , Photosensitizing compounds , Nonlinear optics , BODIPY dyes
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63964 , vital:28515
- Description: A series of BODIPY dyes have been successfully synthesised and structurally characterised to examine the effect of halogenation at the 2,6-positions and the introduction of styryl and vinylene groups at the 3,5-positions. The photophysical properties were studied, to assess the effect of the enhancement of the rate of intersystem crossing through halogenation on the fluorescence properties and the generation of reactive oxygen species. This is important in the assessment of the suitability of applying these molecules as photosensitizer dyes for photodynamic therapy and photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy. Upon bromination, the dyes showed moderately high singlet oxygen quantum yields. The inclusion of BODIPY dyes into cyclodextrins was explored since it makes them water soluble and hence suitable for biomedical applications, but no singlet oxygen was detected in aqueous media for the inclusion complexes. In order to red-shift the main spectral band of the BODIPY dyes into the therapeutic window, styryl groups were introduced at the 3,5-positions via a modified Knoevenagel condensation reaction. Since the main spectral band lies well above 532 nm, the second harmonic of the Nd:YAG laser, there is relatively weak absorbance at this wavelength. The 3,5-distyryl and 3,5-divinylene BODIPY dyes were assessed for their potential utility for application in nonlinear optics (NLO), and they demonstrated typical nonlinear absorption behaviour characterised by reverse saturable absorption (RSA) in z-scan measurements. Furthermore, the dyes possess excellent optical limiting parameters, such as their third-order suspectibility and hyperpolarizability values, in a wide range of solvents. One dye containing dimethylamino moieties on styryl groups attached at the 3,5-positions was assessed for potential application as an on/off fluorescence sensor. The dye proved to be successful, since intramolecular charge transfer in the S1 state was eliminated in the presence of acid and this results in a fluorescence “turn on” effect. This process was found to be reversible with the addition of a base.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Photosensitizing properties of non-transition metal porphyrazines towards the generation of singlet oxygen
- Authors: Seotsanyana-Mokhosi, Itumeleng
- Date: 2001 , 2013-05-02
- Subjects: Phthalocyanines , Photosensitization, Biological , Active oxygen -- Physiological effect , Photosensitizing compounds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4395 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006086 , Phthalocyanines , Photosensitization, Biological , Active oxygen -- Physiological effect , Photosensitizing compounds
- Description: Metallophthalocyanine complexes containing non-transition metals are very useful as sensitizers for photodynamic therapy, a cure for cancer that is based on visible light activation of tumour localized photo sensitizers. Excited sensitizers generate singlet oxygen as the main hyperactive species that destroy the tumour. Water soluble sensitizers are sought after for the convenience of delivery into the body. Thus, phthalocyanine (pc), tetrapyridinoporphyrazines (tppa) and tetramethyltetrapyridinoporphyrazines (tmtppa) with non-transition central metal atoms of Ge, Si, Sn and Zn were studied. First was the synthesis of these complexes, followed by their characterisation. The characterisation involved the use of ultraviolet and visible absorption spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electrochemical properties and elemental analysis. Photochemical properties of the complexes were then investigated. Photolysis of these macrocycles showed two processes; -reduction of the dye and photobleaching, which leads to the disintegration of the conjugated chromophore structure of the dye. Photobleaching is the reductive quenching of the excited state of the sensitizers. The intensity of the quenching decreased progressively from tmtppa, tppa to pc metal complexes with photobleaching quantum yields, 6.6 x 10.5⁻¹, 1.8 x 10.5⁻¹ and 5.4 x 10⁻⁶ for Zntmtppa, Zntppa and Znpc, respectively. Efficiency of singlet oxygen sensitization is solvent dependent with very different values obtained for the same compound in different solvents, for example, 0.25 and 0.38 were observed as singlet oxygen quantum yields for Gepc complex in DMSO and DMF respectively. In DMSO the efficiency of ¹O₂ generation decrease considerably from pc to tppa and finally tmtppa. In water Getmtppa exhibits much higher singlet oxygen quantum yield, hence promising to be effective as a sensitizer for photodynamic therapy.
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- Date Issued: 2001