Physicochemical behavior of zinc tetrakis (benzylmercapto) phthalocyanine when used to functionalize gold nanoparticles and in electronspun fibers

Aryl-derivatized ZnPc (tetrakis (benzylmercapto) zinc phthalocyanine, ZnTBMPc) was synthesized and used to functionalize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by ligand exchange. The triplet quantum yield and lifetime of ZnTBMPc were determined to be 0.51 and 50 μs and a singlet oxygen quantum yield (ΦΔ) of 0.33 was obtained in toluene. When conjugated to AuNPs, the ΦΔ value of 0.54 was obtained in toluene. Poly(methyl methacrylate) fiber was electrospun in the absence and presence of ZnTBMPc and its conjugate with AuNPs. The functionalized fiber showed an ability to generate singlet oxygen for both ZnTBMPc and its AuNPs conjugate. The functionalized phthalocyanine fiber could be a promising fabric material for applications as photosensitizers.

► A benzylmercapto phthalocyanine was synthesized and conjugated to gold nanoparticles.
► The conjugates showed increased singlet oxygen generation compared to phthalocyanine alone.
► A polymer containing the conjugates and the phthalocyanine alone was electrospun into fibers.
► The fibers showed the ability to generate singlet oxygen.