In order to provide a long-lasting solution to infections affecting the current world scenario, photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers a means to destroy pathogenic microbes via formation of reactive oxygen species, promoting the damage of microbial targets such as nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), proteins, lipids, protein complexes, or by impeding the biofilm matrix. Thus, the main aim of the study is to design and synthesize photoactive moieties based on porphyrin and chlorin macrocycles and BODIPY dyes for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT). Furthermore, incorporating these photo-moieties into biopolymeric hydrogels as shown in Figure 1 for a variety of biomedical applications are targeted. Porphyrin based cationic photosensitizers (PSs) were synthesized and a chlorin based PS was extracted from Spirulina maxima and modified to be included on a biopolymeric hyaluronic acid hydrogel platform. This platform was characterized spectroscopically and evaluated for antimicrobial photoactivity via microbial evaluation on different gram strains of bacterial species. Singlet oxygen production was determined as well to evaluate the photoactivity of this polymeric hydrogel platform. Furthermore, BODIPY dye-based PS species have been synthesized and modified for their activity as aPDT agents. Several N-heterocyclic BODIPY-dyes have been positively charged or functionalized for incorporation into hydrogel platforms. These dyes exhibit good water solubility. A library of such N-heterocyclic BODIPY dyes was prepared and characterized and will be evaluated for photoactivity against microbes.

Antimicrobial photosensitizers and their formulations: A potential solution to current world scenario

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.