A potential mediator for photodynamic therapy based on silver nanoparticles functionalized with porphyrin

The development of photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent's emphasis on metal nanoparticles loaded with porphyrin derivative has been explored in the present investigation. For this purpose, a novel porphyrin derivative 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl) porphyrin (POR) was synthesized and characterized at a molecular scale. The synthesized POR was loaded on the surface of simply prepared mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) capped silver nanoparticles(MSA-AgNPs). The formation of newly designed nanocomposite system (POR-MSA-AgNPs) was confirmed by different characterization techniques such as Zeta-Particle size analyzer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). While optical properties were investigated by UV-Vis. absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. In order to explore the capacity of synthesized nanosystem as a competent photosensitizer in PDT, the efficiency of singlet oxygen generation was successfully estimated using photooxidation of 9,10-Dimethylanthracene. An efficiency of singlet oxygen quantum yield was seen higher when the POR is incorporated onto MSA-AgNPs rather than in its free form. In an addition, synthesized nanocomposite could be a potent candidate for cell imaging application against cancer cell line A375 with non-toxic behavior. Thus, the excellent photophysical properties, significant singlet oxygen generation efficiency and cell imaging application of POR-MSA-AgNPs can open a new window to explore it as PDT agent in bioanalytical, drug formulation and biosensing field.