Bulk heterojunction organic solar cells (BHJ OSCs) have been recognized as one of the most promising next generation green technology alternatives to inorganic solar cells because of the low-cost, lightweight, flexibility. Specifically, the use of small molecules instead of polymers as donors in BHJ OSC have been developed very fast recently because small molecules can be facilely synthesized and easily purified, and have a determined molecular structure without batch-to-batch variations. To date, those among the most efficient small molecules were constructed as acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) structural configuration from electron-rich units such as benzodithiophene (BDT), dithienosilole (DTS), oligothiophene units, and electron-deficient units such as benzothiadiazole (BT), diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP), isoindigo (IID) and perylenediimide (PDI). Surprisingly, porphyrins were rarely studied either in polymers or π-conjugated small molecules as donor materials, though they have unique chemistry together with excellent photochemical and electrochemical properties, such as facile functionalization of the periphery and the variation of the central atom (metal ions), strong UV-visible absorption, ultrafast photoinduced charge separation in porphyrin-fullerene systems. In this research work, we design, synthesize and characterize new porphyrin-based small molecules with acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) configuration for bulk heterojunction organic solar cells, and investigate their structure-property relationships, specifically the effect of peripheral and backbone alkyl side-chains, π-conjugated linkers as well as electron-deficient ending units on the charge mobility, film morphology and solar cell performances. In Chapter 1, a general review on the historic and recent development of BHJ OSCs was given first, including the major components and working principle of OSC, the versatile organic semiconductors and their performances in OSCs. In chapter 2, six A-D-A structural porphyrin small molecules were designed and synthesized, in which different peripheral alkyl substitutions are attached to the meso-position of porphyrin core (CS-I, CS-II, CS-III, CS-4, CS-5 and CS-6), and 3-ethylrhodanine is used as terminal group. Their UV-visible absorption in solid, energy level, blend film morphology, charge mobility and cell performance are dependent on the different peripheral substitutions. The active layer consists of these six small molecules as donor materials and PC71BM as the acceptor material with an optimized film thickness. Although all six molecules show similar optical spectrum in solutions, the introduction of linear alkyl side chains can promote thin-film nanostructural order, especially shown to shorten π-π stacking distances between backbones and increase the correlation lengths of both π-π stacking and lamellar spacing, leading to higher efficiency in this serial. Among them, the highest power conversion efficiency of 9.09% has been achieved by CS-4 based devices. In chapter 3, another two new A-D-A porphyrin small molecules (PTTR and PTTCNR) have been developed, which are similar in structure to CS-I, II and III, except that the linker is phenylethynyl in CS-I, II and III, whereas it is terthiophenylethynyl in PTTR and PTTCNR. The highest power conversion efficiency of 8.21% is achieved by PTTCNR, corresponding to a JSC of 14.30 mA cm−2, VOC of 0.82 V, and FF of 70.01%. The excellent device performances can be ascribed to the conjugated structure of porphyrin with 3,3''-dihexyl-terthiophene and the aliphatic 2-octylundecyl peripheral substitutions, which not only effectively increase the solar flux coverage between the conventional Soret and Q bands of porphyrin unit, but also optimize molecular packing through polymorphism associated with side-chain and the π-conjugated backbones, and form the blend films with [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) characteristics of bi-continuous, interpenetrating networks required for efficient charge separation and transportation.;In chapter 4, we designed and synthesized a new dimeric porphyrin donor molecule (CS-DP) containing A-π2-D-π1-D-π2-A architecture by coupling of two zinc porphyrin cores through ethynyl linker. Interestingly, it can harvests the photons up to deep near-infrared (NIR) region in the absorption spectrum. From the past decades, it has been found that developing donor molecules with the absorption spectral in NIR region is a challenging key factor to get the high performance BHJ OSCs. Solar cell devices employing CS-DP as a donor exhibit a highest power conversion efficiency of 8.23%, corresponding to JSC = 15.14 mA cm-2, VOC = 0.781 mV and FF = 69.8% under AM 1.5G solar radiation. The high efficiency of this molecule is attributed to a panchromatic IPCE action spectrum from 300 nm to 1000 nm. Also, this performance is best for the reported deep NIR organic solar cells based on single small molecule and PC71BM system so far. We envision that this new small bandgap dimeric porphyrin is very promising to use in ternary and multi-junction applications as well as NIR photodetectors. In chapter 5, a series of new A-D-A structural porphyrin small molecules (CS-10, CS-11 and CS-12) have been prepared, that contain the same meso-thienyl-thioalkyl substituted porphyrin core and 3-ethylrhodanine ending unit, but varies with different numbers of phenylethynyl linker. Using them as donors for solution-processed organic solar cells, the device based on CS-10 featuring single phenyl ethynyl π-linker exhibits high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.0%. The results indicate that meso-thienyl-thioalkyl substitution and controlled π-linker length is beneficial to tune the optoelectronic properties, film morphology and consequently performance of porphyrin-based BHJ OSCs. In chapter 6, two symmetrical tetra-meso-substituted porphyrin molecules (ZnP and CuP) have been prepared in gram-scale through the direct condensation of pyrrole and 4-[bis(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]benzaldehyde. Its Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes exhibit excellent thermal and electrochemical stability, specifically, high hole mobility and very favorable energetics for hole extraction that render them attractive for implementation as new hole transporting materials in organometallic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs). As expected, the use of ZnP as HTM in PSCs affords a competitive PCE of 17.78%, which is comparable to the most powerful HTM of Spiro-OMeTAD (18.59%) under the same working conditions. Meanwhile, the metal centers affect somewhat the photovoltaic performances that CuP as HTM produces a relative lower PCE of 15.36%. Notably, the perovskite solar cells employing ZnP show longer stability than that of Spiro-OMeTAD. Moreover, the two porphyrin-based HTMs can be prepared from relatively cheap raw materials with a facile synthetic route. The results demonstrate that ZnP and CuP can be a new class of HTMs for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest performance for porphyrin-based perovskite solar cells with PCE > 17%. The dissertation was completed with conclusions and outlooks in chapter 7.

A transferência de carga entre adsorbatos moleculares doadores e nanopartículas (NPs) semicondutoras aceitadoras têm encontrado extensivas aplicações recentes em células fotovoltaicas e de combustíveis, em fotocatálise e em eletrônica molecular. Além disso, NPs têm sido usadas como suporte para reagentes moleculares, fotosintetizadores e fármacos para variados fins. A eficiência destes dispositivos moleculares depende do estudo detalhado da dinâmica de transferência de carga na interface entre uma NP e moléculas adsorvidas e, em particular, da transferência lateral de energia entre moléculas adsorvidas. Além disso, é necessário otimizar de um lado a atração Coulombiana entre doadores oxidados e aceitadores reduzidos e por outro lado as reações de ancoramento de modo que elas não fiquem limitadas ao encontro estocástico e difuso em solução. Em especial, tem-se observado uma crescente demanda por dispositivos fotovoltaicos híbridos construídos a partir de NPs de dióxido de titânio (TiO2). Estudos de estabilidade à longo prazo e modificações na interface de tais dispositivos são essenciais para se obter uma melhor eficiência. Também já é bem conhecida na literatura o uso de NPs de TiO2 como uma alternativa na degradação de corantes e tratamento de efluentes. Outra classe de estudos igualmente importante consiste na aplicação de porfirinas e seus derivados na geração de oxigênio singleto e no tratamento de câncer. Portanto, é de grande interesse o estudo de sistemas baseados nas propriedades das porfirinas e TiO2. O presente trabalho de mestrado teve como objetivo o estudo por técnicas espectroscópicas a) da adsorção de moléculas de porfirina emissora de luz na superfície de NPs semicondutoras de TiO2, b) dos processos ópticos envolvidos na transferência de carga e de energia na interface entre NP aceitadora e as porfirinas doadoras adsorvidas e do efeito da NP na fotoestabilidade e fotodegradação da porfirina. Em nosso estudo, escolhemos uma porfirina (Photogem® ou PG) como padrão de sistema molecular, pois apresenta bandas de absorção e emissão bem definidos. Foram utilizadas séries distintas de NPs de TiO2 com diferentes razões de área superficial por volume e porcentagens das fases predominantes rutilo e anatase preparadas sob diversas condições pelo método dos precursores poliméricos. Desenvolvemos um método que consiste na centrifugação das NPs juntamente com as moléculas adsorvidas e posterior analise óptica da solução sobrenadante para estudar a adsorção das porfirinas na superfície do TiO2. Observamos que NPs de TiO2 com predominância da fase anatase em sua estrutura possui maior interação e, consequentemente, maior adsorção molecular. A fase rutilo possui baixa adsorção molecular por ser extremamente estável. A afinidade e interação entre porfirina e partículas de TiO2 em solução foram analisadas para diferentes valores de pH. Também foram estudados efeitos da agregação e cobertura molecular nos processos de fotodegradação e de transferência lateral de energia entre moléculas adsorvidas. / Actually, charge transfer processes between molecular adsorbate donors and semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) acceptors have found extensive applications in photocatalysis, photovoltaics cells and molecular electronics. Moreover, NPs have been used as carrier by molecular reagents, photosynthesizing and drugs for various purposes. The efficiency of these molecular devices depends on the detailed study of the dynamics of charge transfer at the interface between NPs and adsorbed molecules and, in particular, the lateral energy transfer between adsorbed molecules. Furthermore, it is necessary to optimize the Coulomb attraction between oxidized donors and reduced acceptors as well as anchoring reactions so that they are not limited by stochastic and diffuse interaction in solution. In particular, there has been a growing demand for hybrid photovoltaic devices based on nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO2-NPs). Studies of long-term stability and interface modification are essential to obtain devices with better efficiency. Also well known in literature it is the employ of TiO2-NPs as an alternative in dye degradation and wastewater treatment. Another class of important study is based on the application of porphyrins and their derivatives in the generation of singlet oxygen and treatment of cancer. Thus, it is of great interest the study of systems based on porphyrin and TiO2 properties. The present work had as objective the study by spectroscopic technics: a) the adsorption of a light-emitting porphyrin on the TiO2-NPs surfaces, b) optical processes involved in charge and energy transfer in the interface between NP acceptor and porphyrins donors and the effect of NP on the photostability and photodegradation of porphyrins. In our study, we chose a porphyrin (or PG Photogem ®) as standard molecular system, because it shows well defined absorption and emission bands. We used TiO2-NPs which differ in area/volume ratios and in the percentage of rutile and anatase phases that predominates under different conditions of preparation by polymeric precursor method. We developed a method based on the centrifugation of the NPs with adsorbed molecules and subsequent optical analysis of the supernatant solution to study the adsorption of porphyrins on TiO2-NPs surfaces. We observed that TiO2-NPs with predominantly anatase phase in its structure has greater interaction and, consequently, higher molecular adsorption. The rutile phase has low molecular adsorption due to your great stability. The affinity and interaction between porphyrin and TiO2-NPs in solution were analyzed for different pH values. Other subjects discussed in this work include molecular aggregation effects and coverage during photodegradation and lateral energy transfer between adsorbed molecules.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-08-12T11:59:46Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) TESE BIBLIOTECA - VERSÃO FINAL (1).pdf: 2862588 bytes, checksum: 3d785691cce449a94e01f2c63a25153f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-12T11:59:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) TESE BIBLIOTECA - VERSÃO FINAL (1).pdf: 2862588 bytes, checksum: 3d785691cce449a94e01f2c63a25153f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-16 / FACEPE / Nas três últimas décadas nanocristais de materiais semicondutores em regime de confinamento quântico - pontos quânticos (do inglês quantum dots) - vem atraindo o interesse em diversas áreas científicas. Suas propriedades ópticas e elétricas únicas possibilitam ampla aplicação em novas tecnologias tais como dispositivos eletrônicos e em novos protocolos diagnósticos biomédicos. Na área da saúde os pontos quânticos (PQs) vêm ganhando destaque em diagnóstico por imagem nas duas últimas décadas, mas recentemente vem sendo testados também em ensaios de terapia fotodinâmica (TFD) livres ou associados a outros compostos. Neste trabalho utilizamos PQs de CdTe como fotosensibilizadores (FS) em culturas de células de Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus e Leishmania amazonensis, comparando o efeito fotodinâmico dos sistemas livres e conjugados à zincoporfirina catiônica [Zn(II)tetraetil-2-piridilporfirina, aqui designada ZnP]. Os PQs de CdTe foram sintetizados através de precipitação em sistema coloidal aquoso na presença de dois diferentes agentes estabilizantes (acido mercaptosuccínico-MSA, ou cisteamina-CYS) sendo caracterizados por difração de raios-X e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão. Todos os sistemas foram caracterizados opticamente por espectroscopia de absorção, emissão e excitação eletrônica. A análise espectroscópica mostra que ocorre supressão da fluorescência dos PQs após adição de quantidades crescentes de ZnP, mas não confirma transferência de energia efetiva dos PQs para a ZnP. O potencial zeta dos bioconjugados foi determinado em função da razão PQ:ZnP. A produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) por PQs, porfirinas e PQ-ZnP foi avaliada através de técnicas de detecção indireta, que indicou que todos os sistemas estudados produzem EROs. A citotoxicidade dos sistemas foi testada via ensaio fotodinâmico em fibroblastos e tanto os PQs quanto a ZnP não apresentaram toxicidade no escuro, mas apresentaram boa atividade fotodinâmica após irradiação, o que foi potencializado quando utilizou-se o conjugado PQ-ZnP. Os ensaios de TFD utilizando-se LED (150 mW.cm-2) (excitando somente PQs) mostraram que os PQs produziram uma inibição da C. albicans ~1 log10; ZnP reduziu ~ 3 log10 enquanto que o conjugado reduziu apenas ~ 1 log10. Sugere-se que a menor eficiência de TFD apresentada para os PQs e para os conjugados deve-se à dificuldade de incorporação dos sistemas nas células de C. albicans devido à baixa taxa de endocitose destas células e que os PQs não foram eficientes FS para a ZnP. Os ensaios de TFD para S. aureus evidenciaram ~8 log10 de inibição bacteriana (30s de irradiação) utilizando-se a ZnP, enquanto que observou-se ~2 log10 para os PQs (9 min de irradiação). Na TFD de L. amazonensis, a redução de viabilidade celular deste parasito foi de ~ 35% para os PQs e de ~ 70% utilizando-se ZnP. Os resultados evidenciam que existe um potencial para uso do PQs em TFD, entretanto a eficiência de geração de ROS precisa ser otimizada. Por outro lado, a ZnP apresentou-se bastante promissora para uso em TFD antimicrobiana. / In the last decade semiconductor nanocrystals in the quantum confinement region (also known as quantum dots) have attracted great interest in different research areas. Their unique optical and electrical properties promoted a vast use in most diverse technological fields, ranging from electronics to biomedical applications. In health sciences quantum dots (QDs) applied as fluorescent labels showed a great potential in the development of image diagnostics, but more recently they are also being tested as photosensitizers (PS) in Photodinamyc Therapy (PDT) free or conjugated to diverse molecules. In the present study we used CdTe QDs as PS for PDT upon cultures of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Leishmania amazonensis, comparing the photodynamic effect in the free systems and the QDs conjugated to a cationic zincporphyrin [Zn(II)tetraetil-2-piridilporfirina, ZnP]. CdTe QDs were obtained by controlled precipitation in aqueous media in the presence of two different stabilizers (mercaptosuccinic acid – MSA; cysteamine – CYS) and characterized by X-ray diffractommetry and transmission electronic microscopy. The optical characterization of all the systems was performed by absorption, excitation and emission spectroscopy. The zeta potential of the bioconjugates was determined as a function of the QD:ZnP ratio. The spectroscopic analysis suggest that the expected energy transfer from the QDs to the ZnP is not effective, although a fluorescence quenching of the QDs is observed with increasing amounts of ZnP. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by QDs, porphyrines and the conjugates was evaluated by indirect detection protocols. All the systems produced ROS but at different levels. The citotoxicity of the systems was tested under PDT irradiation in a fibroblast culture and none of the systems presented dark toxicity, but presented good photodinamyc activity after irradiation which was increased in the QDs-ZnP conjugates. The TFD assays on C. albicans using LED (150 mW.cm-2) (exciting QDs only) showed that the QDs induced a cell inhibition of 1 log10 while ~ 3 log10 for ZnP porphyrin and < 1log10 for the conjugate. We suggest that the less effective PDT action of the QDs and their conjugates on the C. albicans reflect the lower capacity of the cellular uptake of these systems by the cells and that QDs did not act as efficient PS for the ZnP molecules. The essays performed on S. aureus cells showed ~8 log10 of bacterial inhibition using ZnP (30s irradiation) while ~2 log10 for the QDs (9 min irradiation). L. amazonensis essays showed a cell inhibition of 35% for the QDs while 70% for ZnP. Under the conditions tested, the QD-ZnP conjugates did not present a good photodynamic inactivation on the tested cells. The overall results evidence that there is a potential application of the QDs as PS in PDT but the experimental conditions of the therapy and of the systems must increase their efficiency in ROS production. On the other hand, the ZnP alone demonstrated to be very efficient in microbicide PDT.

Neste trabalho foi realizada a síntese, purificação e caracterização de uma tetra crowned porfirina, a 5,10,15,20-tetraquis[2-(hexaoxacicloexadecano-3-amidafenil)]-porfirina, H2TCP, bem como a correspondente ferroporfirina, (FeTCP)Cl. Foi investigado a atividade catalítica desta ferroporfirina e da ferroporfirina mono-crowned substituída, (FeMCP)Cl, sintetizada anteriormente, na oxidação dos substratos (z)-ciclooocteno, estireno, cicloexano e do fármaco carbamazepina, por vários oxidantes: iodosilbenzeno, ácido meta-cloroperbenzóico e hipoclorito de sódio, em meio homogêneo (MeOH ou ACN) e bifásico (C2H4Cl2/H2O). Os resultados revelaram que estes sistemas metaloporfirinicos podem ser considerados bons modelos biomiméticos das enzimas citocromo P450, para oxidação dos substrados estudados, levando ao mesmo produto obtido in vivo na oxidação do fármaco carbamazepina, o cabamazepina-epóxido. Os rendimentos dos produtos de oxidação catalisada pelas ferro crowned porfirinas são, na maioria dos casos, mais expressivos do que aqueles observados com as metaloporfirinas amino-substituídas precursoras. Estes resultados indicam que o substituinte éter coroa confere maior estabilidade e reatividade ao catalisador, e leva à maior seletividade, resultado da interação do éter corôa com o substrato, direcionando-o para o sítio catalítico. Uma outra propriedade importante das crowned porfirinas estudadas é sua capacidade de atuar como agente transferidor de fases nas reações em meio bifásico, utilizando hipoclorito de sódio como oxidante. Os resultados catalíticos nestes sistemas mostraram que as unidades éter corôa foram capazes de carregar o oxidante do meio aquoso para o meio orgânico, onde se encontra o substrato. Foram avaliadas também as propriedades destas novas porfirinas e metaloporfirinas em extrair íons metálicos sódio e potássio do meio aquoso para o meio orgânico. As crowned porfirinas foram bastante eficientes na extração destes metais, principalmente utilizando a técnica de extração por fase única, levando a extrações superiores a 90 % do cátion potássio, e mostrando maior seletividade para este cátion, devido ao tamanho adequado da cavidade do éter corôa para ligar este íon. Foi realizada também a caracterização das porfirinas e ferroporfirinas crowned substituídas por voltametria cíclica, visando sua aplicação futura na análise eletroanalítica de íons potássio e/ou sódio. Observou-se que as porfirinas crowned substituídas sofrem reduções mais fáceis e oxidações mais difíceis quando comparadas com as porfirinas precursoras, mostrando o efeito sacador de elétrons dos substituintes éter corôa. Estes resultados ajudam a explicar os melhores resultados catalíticos obtidos com as ferro porfirinas crowned substituídas, mostrando o efeito do éter coroa em formar a metaloporfirina mais eletrofílica e aumentando a reatividade da espécie catalítica. / In this work we carried out the synthesis, purification and characterization of a tetra crowned porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[2- (hexaoxacyclohexanedecane-3-amidephenyl)]porphyrin, H2TCP, and its corresponding ironporphyrin, (FeTCP)Cl. We investigated the catalytic activity of both this ironporphyrin and the previously synthesized mono-crowned substituted (FeMCP)Cl in the oxidation of the substrates Z-cyclooctene, styrene, cyclohexane and the drug carbamazepine by oxidants like iodosylbenzene, metachloroperbenzoic acid and sodium hypochlorite, in homogeneous (methanol or acetonitrile) and biphasic (C2H2Cl2/H2O) media. Our results demonstrated that these metalloporphyrin systems can be considered good biomimetic models of the cytochrome P450 enzymes in the case of the substrates studied herein, since they led to the same product obtained in the in vivo oxidation of carbamazepine, the carbamazepine-epoxide. The product yields obtained in the oxidation reactions catalyzed by the crowned ironporphyrins were, in the majority of the cases, higher than those achieved with the precursor aminosubstituted metalloporphyrins. This indicates that the crown-ether substituent renders the catalyst more stable and reactive, thus leading to higher selectivity. This selectivity results from the interaction between the crown-ether and the substrate, which directs the latter toward the catalytic site. Another important feature of the studied crowned ironporphyrins is their ability to act as phase-transfer agent in the reactions carried out in biphasic medium, using sodium hypochlorite as oxidant. The catalytic results using such a system gave evidence that the crown ether entities were capable of carrying the oxidant from the aqueous to the organic medium, where the substrate was located. We also evaluated the ability of these novel porphyrins and ironporphyrins to extract sodium and potassium ions from aqueous solution to organic medium. The crowned porphyrins were efficient at extracting these metals, especially when the one-phase extraction technique was employed, leading to potassium ion extraction as high as 90 %. The complexes were more selective toward this latter ion due to the fact that the size of the crown ether cavity was more suitable for binding the larger K+. The crowned porphyrins and ironporphyrins were also characterized by cyclic voltammetry, aiming at their future application in the electroanalytical determination of sodium and potassium ions. When compared with the precursor aminosubstituted porphyrins, we observed that the crowned porphyrins undergo reduction more easily, but their oxidation is harder to achieve. This gives evidence of the electronwithdrawing effect of the crownether substituent. These results help explain the better catalytic results obtained with the crowned ironporphyrins, showing that the crown-ether entity must render the metalloporphyrin more electrophilic, thus increasing the reactivity of the active species.

A TFD está baseada no uso de um fármaco fotossensível que, uma vez ativado por luz visível e na presença do oxigênio, induz a produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio tais como o radical peroxila, o ânion radical superóxido e o radical hidroxila (Tipo I) ou oxigênio singlete (Tipo II), que atuam diretamente sobre os sistemas biológicos, induzindo a morte da célula por processo necrótico ou apoptótico. A maioria dos tipos de tumores responde ao tratamento e os resultados são promissores. Entretanto, órgãos altamente pigmentados e vísceras maciças (fígado, baço, rins e medula óssea) impedem a penetração da luz visível para o tratamento, o que representa um tipo de resistência aos protocolos da Terapia Fotodinâmica. Torna-se necessário, portanto, procurar por novos agentes fotossensibilizadores. Estudos mostraram que a ação fotodinâmica induz mudanças diretas na membrana celular que levam a um desequilíbrio na homeostase iônica celular (íons sódio, potássio e cálcio), o que certamente leva a um dano no transporte de proteínas da membrana plasmática e, em última análise, a um stress osmótico irreversível. Neste trabalho, procurou-se determinar a potencialidade do uso da 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxaciclopentadecane-2-aminometil)2,3,-5,6-tetrafluoro)fenil]-porfirina (H2C4P), e o Zn(II)5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxaciclopentadecane-2-aminometil)2,3,5,6-(tetrafluoro)fenil]-porfirinato (ZnC4P) como fármaco fotossensível. Avaliou-se também a zinco ftalocianina associada ao éter de coroa onde, graças à presença do éter de coroa, pôde-se observar uma potencialização da ação fotodinâmica. Nos estudos fotofísicos e fotoquímicos, observou-se que os fármacos porfirínicos possuem importantes propriedades espectroscópicas para a TFD. O rendimento quântico de produção de oxigênio singlete foi medido e o valor encontrado para H2C4P ( = 0,62) foi maior que o valor encontrado para ZnC4P ( = 0,46). Os valores de rendimento quântico de produção dos estados excitado tripletes (T) para ZnC4P foi da ordem de 0,73 ± 0,06 e para H2C4P foi da ordem de 0,63 ± 0,05, mostrando que o mecanismos Tipo II para a porfirina base livre H2C4P é dominante e para o fotossensibilizador metalado ZnC4P tem-se Tipo I dominante. Ambos os sistemas apresentaram uma eficiente ação fotodinâmica nos estudos com a linhagem de células J774-A.1. Fez-se uso de sondas fluorescentes para monitorar a distribuição e alteração na homeostase de íons através da membrana plasmática. Esses estudos mostraram que a presença dos ligantes éter de coroa na estrutura da porfirina, atuando concomitantemente à ftalocianina, potencializa a ação fotodinâmica. Observou-se que o 18-crow-6 éter de coroa minimiza a diferença de potencial da mesma ordem de magnitude de quando está associado à ZnPc em uma formulação lipossomal (da ordem de 50%), o que mostra que a ZnPc não interfere na formação dos canais de íons potássio formados. Os resultados indicaram um grande potencial de aplicação do ligante éter de coroa associado ou ligado covalentemente ao fármaco no uso da TFD, visto que o éter de coroa não modificou as características fotofísicas e fotoquímicas dos fotossensibilizadores, uma nova perspectiva no que chamamos de Terapia Fotodinâmica Sinérgica. / Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is based on the use of a photosensitive drug which, once activated by visible light and in the presence of oxygen, induces the production of several reactive species of oxygen, such as the peroxyl radical, superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical (Type I) or singlet oxygen (Type II), which act directly over the biological systems inducing the cell death, through a necrotic or apoptotic process. Most of the types of tumor respond to the treatment and the results are prosperous. However, highly pigmented organs and massive viscera (kidneys, spleen, liver and bone marrow) block the penetration of the visible light for the treatment, what represents a kind of resistance towards the Photodynamic Therapy protocols. Hence, it is necessary to look for new phosensitizing agents. Studies have shown that the photodynamic action induces direct changes in the cell membrane that lead to an unbalance in the cell ionic homeostasis (sodium, potassium and calcium ions), what certainly causes damage to the plasmatic membrane protein transport, and in a final analysis, irreversible osmotic stress. In this work, we aimed at determining the potentiality of the use of the 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxacyclopentadecane-2-aminometil)2,3,- 5,6-(tetrafluoro)phenyl] porphyrin (H2C4P), and the Zn(II)5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4- (1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxacyclopentadecane-2-aminomethyl)2,3,5,6-(tetrafluoro)- xvi phenyl]-porphyrinate (ZnC4P) as a photosensitive drug. We evaluated also the phytalocianine zinc associated to the crown ether where, due to the presence of the crown ether, we could observe a potentialization of the photodynamic action. In the photophysical and photochemical studies, we observed that the porphyirinic drugs present important spectroscopic properties to PDT protocol. The singlet oxygen production quantum yield was measured and the value found for H2C4P (FD = 0.62) was higher than that one found for ZnC4P (FD = 0.46). The value of the quantum yield of the production of the triplet excited states (FT) for ZnC4P was 0.73, and for H2C4P it was 0.63, showing that the mechanism Type II for the free-base porphyrin H2C4P is the dominant effect, and for the ZnC4P metallated photosensitizer, Type I process is the dominant one. Both systems present an efficient photodynamic action in the studies with the J774-A.1 cell strain. We used fluorescent probes to monitor the distribution and alteration of the ionic homeostasis through the plasmatic cell membrane. These studies showed that the presence of the crowned-ether ligants in the structure of the porphyrine, acting together with the dye structure, potentializes the photodynamic action. We observed that the 18-crow-6 crown ether decrease the difference in the transmembrane electrical potential in the same order of magnitude when it is associated to the ZnPC in a liposome formulation, (around 50%), what shows that the ZnPC does not interfere in the action of the potassium ion channels. xvii These results indicated a great potential of application of the crowned-ether ligant associated or covalently connected to the drug in the use of PDT, protocol once the crown ether structure did not modify the photophysical and photochemical characteristics of the photosensitizers, a new perspective in what we call Synergic Photodynamic Therapy.

A Terapia Fotodinâmica (TFD) é uma técnica para induzir dano ao tecido tumoral e consiste na administração de uma droga fotossensível que pode ser seletivamente retida no tecido tumoral e que produz oxigênio singlete quando irradiada em comprimento de onda adequado na presença de oxigênio molecular. Fotossensibilizadores do tipo porfirinas podem ser degradados pela luz modificando a concentração do fotossensibilizador (FS) no tumor. Este processo chamado de fotodegradação caracteriza-se pela diminuição nas intensidades das bandas de absorbância e fluorescência e pode ser acompanhado pela formação de fotoprodutos. Neste estudo o FS usado foi Photogem®, um derivado de hematoporfirina produzido na Rússia e que está sendo usado em TFD no Brasil. A fotodegradação do sensibilizador e formação de fotoprodutos foi monitorada pelas mudanças nas propriedades de fluorescência e absorbância, assim como pela formação do fotoproduto evidenciado pelo aparecimento de uma nova banda em torno de 640nm em PBS e 660nm em soluções de Triton X-100 e Brij-35. A fotodegradação do Photogem® e a formação dos fotoprodutos foram induzidas pela irradiação com laser e LED em diferentes concentrações, comprimentos de ondas de irradiação (351, 488, 514 e 630nm), em diferentes intervalos de tempo e intensidades de irradiação. A citotoxicidade do Photogem® e seus fotoprodutos em células tumorais (HEp-2) e células normais (VERO) foram investigadas no escuro e no claro. Experimentos em animais foram realizados com o objetivo de verificar a profundidade de necrose causada por Photogem® e seus fotoprodutos. Os resultados sugerem que os fotoprodutos do Photogem® são menos citotóxicos tanto no claro como no escuro e esta citotoxicidade diminui com o aumento do tempo de irradiação prévia do Photogem® . Os fotoprodutos obtidos do Photogem® em 514nm precisam de 1 h de irradiação em ambas as linhagens celulares para ter a mesma citotoxicidade que Photogem® irradiado por 14 min em células tumorais e 25 min em células normais. Os resultados sugerem que diferentes processos ocorrem na degradação do FS quando em diferentes meios (PBS, surfactantes e solventes), em diferentes concentrações e condições de irradiação (comprimento de onda, potência, tempo). Em TFD, os sensibilizadores estão tipicamente presentes em altas concentrações nas células tumorais. Desta forma, a fotodegradação dos fotossensibilizadores em taxas apropriadas durante a iluminação em PDT, pode vir a diminuir a concentração destes fotossensibilizadores nos tecidos normais, levando a uma diminuição da fotossensibilidade e fototoxicidade (pele), enquanto quantidade suficiente de fotossensibilizador pode persistir nas células tumorais para posterior fotodestruição, resultando em menor dano para o tecido normal. Assim a fotodegradação do fotossensibilizador é o elo fundamental da distribuição da dose fotodinâmica nos fluidos biológicos, estando relacionado com a cinética de eliminação do fotossensibilizador do organismo. Para os dados obtidos in vivo para a profundidade de necrose em tecido de fígado de ratos do Photogem®?e seus fotoprodutos obtidos pela degradação em 514nm e em 630nm, observou-se que na dose de irradiação de 150J/cm2 em ambas as concentrações (1,5 and 2mg/Kg ), a profundidade de necrose é maior para Photogem seguida de Photogem® degradado previamente em 514 e 630nm. Na dose de irradiação de 200J/cm2 e na concentração de 2mg/Kg não existe diferença na profundidade de necrose para Photogem®?bem como para seus fotoprodutos, o que pode estar relacionado com a fototoxicidade dos fotoprodutos, que em altas concentrações e doses de irradiação, apresentam uma maior atividade fotodinâmica. Os resultados obtidos in vivo concordam com os obtidos in vitro, uma vez que nos experimentos citotóxicos, Photogem® irradiado mostrouse menos tóxico do que Photogem® não irradiado e nos experimentos em animais observou-se uma menor profundidade de necrose para Photogem® irradiado. Estes resultados podem ser úteis para o estabelecimento da dosimetria para Photogem® em Terapia Fotodinâmica. / Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a technique for inducing tumor tissue damage following administration of a drug that can be selectively retained in malignant tissue and produce singlet oxygen when irradiated in adequate wavelengths in the presence of molecular oxygen. Photosensitizers of porphyrin type can be degraded by light (photobleaching), modifying the concentration ratio of the photosensitizer (PS) in the tumor vs. normal tissue. This process, usually called photobleaching, is characterized by a decrease in the absorption and fluorescence intensities. It has been shown that, during photobleaching, the formation of redshifted absorbing photoproducts takes place. In this study the PS used was Photogem®, a hematoporphyrin derivative produced in Russia and being used in PDT in Brazil. The sensitizer photobleaching and photoproduct formation was monitored by fluorescence and absorption properties changes as well as by the photoproducts formation evidenced by the appearance of a new absorption band around 640nm in PBS and in 660nm in Triton X-100 and Brij-35 solution. Photogem® photobleaching and photoproducts formation was induced by laser and LED irradiation in different concentrations, irradiation wavelengths (351, 488, 514 and 630nm), in different time intervals and intensities of irradiation. The cytotoxicity of Photogem® and its photoproducts in tumor (HEp-2) and non-tumor (VERO) cell lines were analyzed in the dark and in the light. Experiments in animals were performed in order to access the depth of necrosis caused by Photogem® and its photoproducts in rat liver tissue. The results suggest that the photoproducts of Photogem® are less cytotoxic than Photogem® either in the dark or in the light, and the cytotoxicity decreases with the previous irradiation time of Photogem®. The photoproducts of Photogem® obtained at 514nm need one-hour irradiation for both cell lines to have the same cytotoxicity of Photogem® irradiated for 14min in tumor cells and 25min in non-tumor cells. The results suggest that different processes occurs in the PS degradation when in different environments (PBS, surfactants and solvents), in different concentrations and irradiation conditions (wavelength, potency, time). In PDT, the sensitizers are typically present in high concentrations in tumor cells. At the same time, the degradation of photosensitizers in properly elevate rates during the illumination in PDT, can lead to a decrease in the concentrations of these photosensitizers in normal tissue, decreasing the photosensibility and phototoxicity (skin), while adequate amount of photosensitizer can be maintained in tumor cells for photodestruction, resulting in a small damage for normal tissue. Photodegradation of photosensitizers is the fundamental connection of photodynamic dose distribution in the biological fluids, being related with the kinetic of photosensitizer elimination in the organism. For the data obtained in vivo for depth of necrosis of Photogem® x vii and its photoproducts obtained by degradation in 514nm and in 630nm, it was observed that in the irradiation dose of 150J/cm2 in both concentrations (1,5 and 2mg/Kg ), the depth of necrosis is greater for Photogem® followed by Photogem® previously degradated in 514 and then in 630nm. In the dose of 200J/cm2 and in the concentration 2,0mg/kg, there is no differences in the depth of necrosis for non-irradiated Photogem® as well as for its photoproducts, what can be correlated with the phototoxicity of the photoproducts, that in high concentrations and elevate irradiation doses, present a greater photodynamic activity. These results obtained in vivo are in agreement with the ones in vitro, since in the cytotoxic experiments the photoproducts are less cytotoxic than non irradiated Photogem® presenting in the animals a small depth of necrosis. These findings may be helpful for establishment of dosimetry for Photogem® in Photodynamic Therapy

No description available.

This work reports on the conjugation of differently shaped Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) with ClGa(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (1) as well as chloro - (5,10,15,20-tetrakis (4- (4- carboxy phenycarbonoimidoyl) phenyl) porphyrinato) gallium(III) (2) The work also reports on platination of dihydroxosilicon octacarboxyphthalocyanine (OH)₂SiOCPc (3) to give dihydroxosilicontris(diaquaplatinum)octacarboxyphthalocyanine (OH)₂SiOCPc(Pt)₃ (4). The resulting conjugates were used for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy against S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans. The degree of photo-inactivation is dependent on concentration of the conjugates, light dose (fluence) and illumination time. The log reduction obtained for 1 when conjugated to cubic PtNPs was 4.64 log (which indicate 99.99 percent of the bacteria have been killed), which is much higher than 3.94 log unit for 1-hexagonal PtNPs and 3.31 log units for 1-unshaped PtNPs. Complex 2 conjugated to hexagonal PtNPs showed 18 nm red shift in the Soret band when compared to 2 alone. Complex 2 and 2-hexagonal PtNPs as well showed promising photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) activity against S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans in solution where the log reduction obtained was 4.92, 3.76, and 3.95 respectively for 2-hexagonal PtNPs. The singlet oxygen quantum yields obtained were higher at 0.56 for 2-hexagonl PtNPs in DMF while that of 2 was 0.52 in the same solvent. This resulted in improved PACT activity for 2-hexagonal PtNPs compared to 2. Complex 4 showed slight blue shifting of the absorption spectrum when compared to complex 3 The antimicrobial activity of 4 were promising as the highest log reduction value was observed when compared to the porphyrin conjugates.

The prognosis for multiple myeloma (MM) and the activated B-cell subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (ABC DLBCL) is poor. Gene expression profiling studies have identified that the transcription factor, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is overexpressed and confers a poor prognosis in MM and ABC DLBCL. NF-κB regulates the transcription of genes involved in cell proliferation and survival. Thus, several groups have tried to identify and/or develop agents that target NF-κB to improve therapy and patient prognosis for MM and ABC DLBCL. Our laboratory has shown that the manganese porphyrin MnTE-2-PyP5+ inhibits NF-κB in a murine lymphoma cell culture model and enhances tumor cell death in combination with dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide, two agents that are routinely used to treat these neoplasms. MnTE-2-PyP5+ inhibits NF-κB by glutathionylating p65, a member of the NF-κB family. The objective of the following studies was to determine whether MnTE-2-PyP5+ enhances the chemotherapeutic response in human MM and ABC DLBCL cells that overexpress and depend on NF-κB for survival. The following studies demonstrate that MnTE-2-PyP5+ glutathionylates and inhibits NF-κB in human MM and ABC DLBCL cells. MnTE-2-PyP5+ also synergizes with several MM and DLBCL chemotherapeutics, including dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and bortezomib to enhance cell death. The data from these human cell lines will provide the basis for future studies to test MnTE-2-PyP5+ in animal models and for translating MnTE-2-PyP5+ to the clinic.

D.Phil. / Porphyrazines like porphyrins and phthalocyanines have unique physical, chemical and spectral properties. This allows them to have many impressive applications. They are less studied than phthalocyanines because of the absence of convenient methods for their synthesis. However, recent studies, including this one, have made these compounds more accessible. The palladium-imidazolium salt systems have proved to be one of the most successful catalysts for the Heck and Suzuki coupling reactions. Substituents on nitrogen atoms of imidazolium significantly influence the catalytic activities of the corresponding palladiumimidazolium salt systems in the Heck and Suzuki coupling. The synthesis of the imidazolium salts is discussed in this study. The synthesis of the imidazoles started from diamines. A new route for the synthesis of 4,5-diaminophthalonitrile is discussed here and so far it is the most convenient and less tedious route with higher yields. The catalytic activities on different substrates have also been extensively investigated and gave impressive results, on the Heck and Suzuki reaction. The catalysis study was first performed using the dicyanoimidazolium salts and then with the imidazolium salts of the porphyrazines. The results indicate that both these systems are active ligands for Suzuki and Heck reactions. Two complexes, [1’,1’’-dibutyl-3’,3’’-(4,5-(1,2-dicyanobenzene))diimidazolium dibromide] and [2,3-benzo(2’,3’-(3’’,3’’’-dibutyldiimidazolium-2’,2’’-diylidene)palladium(II)- dibromide)-7,8,12,13,17,18-hexapropyl,porphyrazine] were synthesised successfully in good yields and used for Suzuki and Heck catalysis reactions. Catalyst recovery in homogeneous catalysis is always a major problem; this led this study to make use of porphyrazines in biphasic catalysis because of their high extinction coefficient which comes from their very intense colour. The reactions were performed in a combination of water with toluene and also water with ionic liquid. Both this systems gave results which proved that it is possible to separate the catalyst and the products once the reaction is complete. Two aminoporphyrazines and phthalonitriles were also synthesised in multistep synthesis. The synthesis involved a lot of protection and deprotection steps. These compounds are starting materials to aminophosphine ligands which have a wide variety of catalysis applications.