Light-Activated Antibacterial Polymeric Surface Based on Porphycene

GONZALEZ LOPEZ, EDWIN J. ; RENFIGE RODRIGUEZ MELISA; SANTAMARINA, SOFÍA C.; MACOR LORENA; OTERO, LUIS A.; GERVALDO, MIGUEL A.; DURANTINI, ANDRÉS M.; DURANTINI, EDGARDO N.; DURANTINI, JAVIER E.; HEREDIA, DANIEL A.

Applied Polymer Materials

American Chemical Society

Año: 2023

2637-6105

A photoactivatable antimicrobial polymeric surfacebased on a porphycene derivate was efficiently prepared andevaluated to kill pathogenic microorganisms. The development ofthis self-sterilizing material consisted in the electrochemicalpolymerization of a peripherally tetra-substituted porphycenebearing benzyl-carbazole groups (Pc-Cbz). The latter were usedas electropolymerizable centers, while the porphycene coretriggered the photodynamic action. The electrodeposited photodynamicfilms (P-Pc-Cbz) were obtained in a reproducible andcontrollable manner. Electrochemistry studies combined withspectroscopic measurements demonstrated that the porphycenecore remains unaffected after the electrodeposition process. Moreover, it retains its spectroscopic and photodynamic propertieswithin the polymeric matrix. The photoactive layers were photostable and able to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) by bothphotodynamic mechanisms. Also, the antimicrobial efficiency of P-Pc-Cbz was evaluated against two antibiotic-resistant strains(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli), exhibiting an antimicrobial action higher than 99.998% over theseGram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This work represents the first electropolymerization of a porphycene derivative and thefirst porphycene-based photobiocidal surface. P-Pc-Cbz shows great potential as an efficient self-sterilizing coating activated byvisible light.