Bright shining single-chain nanoparticles: Advanced applications in photocatalysis and photodynamic therapy

Abstract

In this thesis, we aimed to establish a link between single-chain nanoparticle (SCNP) technology and photocatalysis, finding novel and advanced applications of next-generation, light-harvesting SCNPs in aqueous and complex environment such as for organic photocatalysis and photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. Specifically, we describe and report a first generation of artificial photosynthase (APS), which enabled visible-light catalyzed organic reactions in water, namely the photo[2+2]cycloaddition of vinyl arenes and the ¿-arylation of arylamines, as well as the oxidation of 9-substituted anthracenes and the ß-sulfonylation of styrene-like compounds, broadening the possibilities for performing challenging ¿in water¿ organic transformations via APS-mediated visible-light photocatalysis. Subsequently, we report the design and synthesis of a polymeric precursors to enhance the PDT efficiency of a novel, long-wavelength absorbing zinc(II)-phthalocyanine (ZnPc), whose encapsulation within the polymeric matrix yielded water soluble, red-light reactive SCNPs, which we called artificial photo-oxidases (APO). We finally describe their efficient PDT activity in human tumor cells and in zebrafish embryo xenografts as a more accurate human cancer models.