Production of singlet oxygen by Ru(dpp(SO3)2)3 incorporated in polyacrylamide PEBBLES

Polyacrylamide (PAA) and amine-functionalized PAA (AFPAA) nanoparticles with disulfonated 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenantroline ruthenium (Ru(dpp(SO3)2)3) have been prepared. The nanoparticles produced have a hydrodynamic radius of 20–25 nm. ount of singlet oxygen (1O2) produced by Ru(dpp(SO3)2)3 as been measured using anthracene-9,10-dipropionic acid (ADPA). A kinetic model for the disappearance of ADPA, by steady state irradiation of Ru(dpp(SO3)2)3 at 465 nm, has been developed taking also into account a consumption not mediated by 1O2. This direct consumption of ADPA is evaluated by irradiating in the presence of NaN3 and is about 30% of the total. All the experimental results are very well described by the model developed, both for free Ru(dpp(SO3)2)3 and with this dye incorporated in the nanoparticles. found that the polyacrylamide matrix does not quench the 1O2 produced, allowing it to reach the external solution of the nanoparticles and react with ADPA. When the matrix possesses amine groups, AFPAA, the amount of 1O2 that reacts with ADPA is slightly reduced, 60%, but most of the 1O2 produced can still leave the particles and react with external molecules. The particles produced may therefore be used as sources of 1O2 in photodynamic therapy (PTD) of cancers. The fact that those nanoparticles do not quench significantly the 1O2 makes possible the future development of 1O2 sensors based on PAA nanoparticles with the appropriate sensor molecule enclosed.