Broad photodynamic antibacterial activity of a functionalized, highly fluorinated sensitizer

Abstract

Acquired resistance allows bacteria to survive antibiotics, a major health problem. Antibacterial photodynamic inactivation (PDI) relies on photoproduction by a photosensitizer of difficult-to-counteract reactive oxygen species (ROS). We report that a -COOH- functionalized fluoroalkyl-rich fluoro zinc phthalocyanine containing 48 F atoms, is soluble and stable in 99:1% H2O:DMF, and produces 1O2 in quantum yields exceeding 0.30. The photosensitizer induces 93.70–97.28% inhibition of Gram-negative E. coli and P. aeruginosa, and Gram-positive B. subtilis and S. aureus. Such durable, functionalized photosensitizers, exhibiting both inert C-F bonds and reactive-COOH groups, unlike perfluorinated phthalocyanines might be advantageous for constructing covalently bonded new materials with long-term bacterial inactivation activity, useful in a variety of operating environments.