Date of Award
12-19-2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Chemistry
First Advisor
Brian Berry
Second Advisor
Noureen Siraj
Abstract
Porphyrins have been widely used as photosensitizers in research due to their important role in many biological processes. Phthalocyanines have also gained interest in biological applications such as photodynamic therapy (PDT). This dissertation is focused on the synthesis of different photosensitizers for various applications. This dissertation's first section focuses on research involving synthesizing covalently bonded donor-acceptor systems as photosensitizers. Specifically in this work, two porphyrin-fullerene dyads were synthesized using a modified tetraphenyl porphyrin with varying bridges between the porphyrin and fullerene. Metal was incorporated in the porphyrin core to enhance the properties of the dyads as photosensitizers. Detailed photophysical properties, electrochemical studies, and computational studies of the dyads were investigated to explore their potential use as photosensitizers. The second section of this dissertation focuses on developing various porphyrin and phthalocyanine ionic materials (IMs) and ionic nanomaterials (INMs) through ionic chemistry for applications in cancer therapy. For the first time, an INM for PDT was prepared using a synthesized mono-cationic porphyrin. The effect of counterions and metal on the photophysical properties, singlet oxygen generation, and cytotoxicity of the drugs were investigated. The cellular uptake of the INMs by the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was also investigated. Finally, different shapes of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are synthesized and characterized as potential drug-delivery agents.
Recommended Citation
Forson, Mavis, "Synthesis and Characterization of Porphyrin and Phthalocyanine-Based Photosensitizers for Energy and Biomedical Applications" (2023). Theses and Dissertations. 1172.
https://research.ualr.edu/etd/1172
