The synthesis of 5,10,15,20-tetra pentafluorophenyl porphyrin loaded onto spermine modified carbon nanospheres for enhanced cancer selectivity in photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Carbon nanospheres (CNS) were synthesized and decorated with spermine (sper-CNS). These nanoparticles were conjugated to porphyrin complexes: (OH)2Sn 5,10,15,20-tetra pentafluorophenyl porphyrin (complex 1) and (3-hydroxypyridine)2Sn 5,10,15,20-tetra pentafluorophenyl porphyrin (complex 2) through non-destructive non-covalent interaction namely π−π stacking. The sizes and morphology of the conjugates were confirmed by dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy, and it was observed that conjugation causes an increase in size. The photophysicochemical properties of complex 1, 2 and their conjugates were studied, and it was found that the nanoparticles enhanced the singlet oxygen quantum yields of the porphyrin complexes. The porphyrins and conjugates were employed for photodynamic therapy studies using MDA-MB-231 cancer cell line. It was observed that compound 2-sper-CNS resulted in the lowest viability of 16.11 %.