Porphyrin-assembled nano-photosensitizer with near-infrared response for highly efficient type I photodynamic and photothermal therapy
摘要
In comparison with the 660 nm light-triggered type II photosensitizers (PSs) for high oxygen consumption, type I photo-sensitizers that could be triggered by 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) light to achieve effective electron transfer show great application potential in anoxic microenvironments for photodynamic therapy (PDT) due to their lower oxygen dependence. However, developing type I PSs still remains a challenge due to the low energy of NIR light and preferred utilization of type II rather than type I process of PSs under the matched energy levels. Herein, co-assembly of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-aminophenyl)-porphyrin (TAPP) with N-carbobenzyloxy-L-leucine (Cbz-Leu) affords a supramolecular nano-PS (TAPP@Cbz-Leu). TAPP@Cbz-Leu significantly produces superoxide anions (O2•−) when triggered by NIR light (808 nm). The noncovalent tight binding between TAPP and Cbz-Leu was revealed to induce an increase in the photoinduced electron transfer from Cbz-Leu to the triplet TAPP, generating TAPP•− and promoting the formation of O2•− Furthermore, TAPP@Cbz-Leu possess excellent photothermal property under NIR light (808 nm) irradiation. In vivo studies disclose the good antibacterial effect of TAPP@Cbz-Leu on MRSA-infected animal wound models and can effectively promote wound healing. The present result seems to represent the first example of converting type II PS into the type I PS by means of a simple co-assembly strategy.