A self-assembled subphthalocyanine-based nanophotosensitiser for photodynamic therapy.

A subphthalocyanine substituted with nine tetra(ethylene glycol) chains on the periphery has been synthesised. This novel amphiphilic and cone-shaped compound can self-assemble in water into spherical nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic diameter of 154 nm. These nanoparticles can be taken up readily by cancer cells and localised predominately in lysosomes where they disassemble gradually, leading to activation in fluorescence emission and, photocytotoxicity, showing IC values of as low as 1.

Phthalocyanine-DNA origami complexes with enhanced stability and optical properties.

In this communication, electrostatically assembled phthalocyanine (Pc)-DNA origami (DO) complexes are formed and their optical properties are demonstrated. The formation of the complex prevents the Pc aggregation, thus yielding an enhanced optical response and photooxidative resilience towards aggregation in biologically relevant media. Simultaneously, the Pc protects the DO against enzymatic digestion.

Amphiphilic phthalocyanines in polymeric micelles: a supramolecular approach toward efficient third-generation photosensitizers.

In this paper we describe a straightforward supramolecular strategy to encapsulate silicon phthalocyanine (SiPc) photosensitizers (PS) in polymeric micelles made of poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) (PCL-PEG) block copolymers. While PCL-PEG micelles are promising nanocarriers based on their biocompatibility and biodegradability, the design of our new PS favors their encapsulation. In particular, they combine two axial benzoyl substituents, each of them carrying either three hydrophilic methoxy(triethylenoxy) chains (1), three hydrophobic dodecyloxy chains (3), or both kinds of chains (2).

Boosting the singlet oxygen photosensitization abilities of Zn(ii) phthalocyanines through functionalization with bulky fluorinated substituents.

In-depth, systematic photophysical studies have been performed on a series of ABAB, AB and A ZnPcs functionalized with a varying number of bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl units (i.e. at the B isoindoles) and other electron-withdrawing/electron-donating moieties (i.

Phthalocyanines and porphyrinoid analogues as hole- and electron-transporting materials for perovskite solar cells.

Organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite absorbers in combination with electron and hole transporting selective contacts result in power conversion efficiencies of over 23% under AM 1.5 sun conditions. The advantage of perovskite solar cells is their simple fabrication through solution-processing methods either in n-i-p or p-i-n configurations.

Tri- and hexaferrocenyl-substituted subphthalocyanines in the quest for the optimum electron donor-acceptor distances.

Three and six ferrocenyl subunits have been attached to the periphery of subphthalocyanines (SubPcs). Unlike axially coordinated ferrocenes, peripherally-bonded ferrocenes have an impact on the electronic features of SubPcs, which show a 44 to 70 nm red-shift of their Q-bands. The unusually deep and narrow ferrocenyl-SubPc is able to host C, giving rise to atypical SubPc•C cocrystallates, through a combination of concave-convex and convex-convex π-π interactions.

Chemical functionalization and characterization of graphene-based materials.

Graphene-based materials (GBMs), with graphene, their most known member, at the head, constitute a large family of materials which has aroused the interest of scientists working in different research fields such as chemistry, physics, or materials science, to mention a few, arguably as no other material before. In this review, we offer a general overview on the most relevant synthetic approaches for the covalent and non-covalent functionalization and characterization of GBMs. Moreover, some representative examples of the incorporation into GBMs of electroactive units such as porphyrins, phthalocyanines, or ferrocene, among others, affording electron donor-acceptor (D-A) hybrids are presented.