Novel Nanohybrids Based on Supramolecular Assemblies of Meso-tetrakis-(4-sulfonatophenyl) Porphyrin J-aggregates and Amine-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes
Mariachiara Trapani,
Antonino Mazzaglia,
Anna Piperno,
Annalaura Cordaro,
Roberto Zagami,
Maria Angela Castriciano,
Andrea Romeo,
Luigi Monsù Scolaro
Affiliations
Mariachiara Trapani
CNR-ISMN, Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati c/o Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università di Messina, V. le F. Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Antonino Mazzaglia
CNR-ISMN, Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati c/o Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università di Messina, V. le F. Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Anna Piperno
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università di Messina, V. le F. Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Annalaura Cordaro
CNR-ISMN, Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati c/o Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università di Messina, V. le F. Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Roberto Zagami
CNR-ISMN, Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati c/o Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università di Messina, V. le F. Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Maria Angela Castriciano
CNR-ISMN, Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati c/o Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università di Messina, V. le F. Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Andrea Romeo
CNR-ISMN, Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati c/o Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università di Messina, V. le F. Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Luigi Monsù Scolaro
CNR-ISMN, Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati c/o Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università di Messina, V. le F. Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
The ability of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) covalently functionalized with polyamine chains of different length (ethylenediamine, EDA and tetraethylenepentamine, EPA) to induce the J-aggregation of meso-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS) was investigated in different experimental conditions. Under mild acidic conditions, protonated amino groups allow for the assembly by electrostatic interaction with the diacid form of TPPS, leading to hybrid nanomaterials. The presence of only one pendant amino group for a chain in EDA does not lead to any aggregation, whereas EPA (with four amine groups for chain) is effective in inducing J-aggregation using different mixing protocols. These nanohybrids have been characterized through UV/Vis extinction, fluorescence emission, resonance light scattering and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Their morphology and chemical composition have been elucidated through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). TEM and STEM analysis evidence single or bundles of MWCNTs in contact with TPPS J-aggregates nanotubes. The nanohybrids are quite stable for days, even in aqueous solutions mimicking physiological medium (NaCl 0.15 M). This property, together with their peculiar optical features in the therapeutic window of visible spectrum, make them potentially useful for biomedical applications.
