RESUMO
Most of the studies performed with porphyrins involve these species functionalized with peripheral substituents lying on the same macrocyclic molecular plane. The main objective of this work deals with the successful preservation and optimization of the fluorescence of a uncommonly used porphyrin species, i.e. tetrakis-(ortho-amino-phenyl)-porphyrin; a molecule with substituents localized not only at one but at both sides of its molecular plane. In cases like this, it must be stressed that fluorescence can only be partially preserved; nevertheless, intense fluorescence can still be reached by following a twofold functionalization strategy involving: (i) the bonding of substituted macrocycles to the pore walls of (ii) organo-modified silica monoliths synthesized by the sol-gel method. The analysis of both absorption and emission UV spectra evidenced a radiation energy transfer taking place between the porphyrin and the host silica matrix. Our results showed that the adequate displaying of the optical properties of macrocyclic species trapped in SiO2 xerogels depend on the polarity existing inside the pores, a property which can be tuned up through the adequate selection of organic groups used to modify the surface of the pore cavities. Additionally, the pore widths attained in the final xerogels can vary depending on the identity of the organic groups attached to the network. All these facts finally demonstrated that, even if using inefficient surface functionalization species, such as ortho-substituted tetraphenylporphyrins, it is still possible to modulate the pore shape, pore size, and physicochemical environment created around the trapped macrocycles. The most important aspect related to this research deals with the fact that the developed methodology offers a real possibility of controlling both the textural and morphological characteristics of a new kind of hybrid porous materials and to optimize the physicochemical properties of diverse active molecules trapped inside the pores of these materials.
RESUMO
Chlorophyll is a pyrrolic pigment with important optical properties, which is the reason it has been studied for many years. Recently, interest has been rising with respect to this molecule because of its outstanding physicochemical properties, particularly applicable to the design and development of luminescent materials, hybrid sensor systems, and photodynamic therapy devices for the treatment of cancer cells and bacteria. More recently, our research group has been finding evidence for the possibility of preserving these important properties of substrates containing chlorophyll covalently incorporated within solid pore matrices, such as SiO2, TiO2 or ZrO2 synthesized through the sol-gel process. In this work, we study the optical properties of silica xerogels organo-modified on their surface with allyl and phenyl groups and containing different concentrations of chlorophyll bonded to the pore walls, in order to optimize the fluorescence that these macrocyclic species displays in solution. The intention of this investigation was to determine the maximum chlorophyll a concentration at which this molecule can be trapped inside the pores of a given xerogel and to ascertain if this pigment remains trapped as a monomer, a dimer, or aggregate. Allyl and phenyl groups were deposited on the surface of xerogels in view of their important effects on the stability of the molecule, as well as over the fluorescence emission of chlorophyll; however, these organic groups allow the trapping of either chlorophyll a monomers or dimers. The determination of the above parameters allows finding the most adequate systems for subsequent in vitro or in vivo studies. The characterization of the obtained xerogels was performed through spectroscopic absorption, emission and excitation spectra. These hybrid systems can be employed as mimics of natural systems; the entrapment of chlorophyll inside pore matrices indicates that it is possible to exploit some of the most physicochemical properties of trapped chlorophyll for diverse technological applications. The data herein collected suggest the possibility of applying the developed methodology to other active, captive molecules in order to synthesize new hybrid materials with optimized properties, suitable to be applied in diverse technological fields.