Photocatalytic coalescence of functionalized gold nanoparticles.

A novel strategy for the synthesis of chromophore-functionalized AuNPs with a narrow size distribution is reported. It consists of increasing the size of preprepared NPs by means of a fast (second scale) and clean (light and an organic photocatalyst) method. The results agree with thiolate ligand liberation from the NP surface promoted by photogenerated radicals. This lets gold cores come together and finally coalesce.

Triplet stabilization for enhanced drug photorelease from sunscreen-based photocages

[EN] Recently, sunscreen-based drug photocages have been introduced to provide UV protection to photoactive drugs, thus increasing their photosafety. Here, combined experimental and theoretical studies performed on a photocage based on the commercial UVA filter avobenzone (AB) and on the photosensitizing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen (KP) are presented unveiling the photophysical processes responsible for the light-triggered release. Particular attention is paid to solvent stabilization of the drug and UV filter excited states, respectively, which leads to a switching between the triplet excited state energies of the AB and KP units. Most notably, we show that the stabiliz…

Building a Functionalizable, Potent Chemiluminescent Agent: A Rational Design Study on 6,8-Substituted Luminol Derivatives.

Luminol is a prominent chemiluminescent (CL) agent, finding applications across numerous fields, including forensics, immunoassays, and imaging. Different substitution patterns on the aromatic ring can enhance or decrease its CL efficiency. We herein report a systematic study on the synthesis and photophysics of all possible 6,8-disubstituted luminol derivatives bearing H, Ph, and/or Me substituents. Their CL responses are monitored at three pH values (8, 10, and 12), thus revealing the architecture with the optimum CL efficiency. The most efficient pattern is used for the synthesis of a strongly CL luminol derivative, bearing a functional group for further, straightforward derivatization. …

Characterization of Locally Excited and Charge-Transfer States of the Anticancer Drug Lapatinib by Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Computational Studies

[EN] Lapatinib (LAP) is an anticancer drug, which is metabolized to theN- and O-dealkylated products (N-LAP andO-LAP, respectively). In view of the photosensitizing potential of related drugs, a complete experimental and theoretical study has been performed on LAP,N-LAP andO-LAP, both in solution and upon complexation with human serum albumin (HSA). In organic solvents, coplanar locally excited (LE) emissive states are generated; they rapidly evolve towards twisted intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) states. By contrast, within HSA only LE states are detected. Accordingly, femtosecond transient absorption reveals a very fast switching (ca. 2 ps) from LE (lambda(max)=550 nm) to ICT states (…

Efficient ultraviolet-light energy dissipation by an aromatic ketone.

Experimental evidence on the efficiency of 2,2'4,4'-tetramethoxybenzil for UV-light energy dissipation is provided. This non-phenolic aromatic ketone has a low energy triplet which quickly decays to the ketone ground state, thus avoiding the generation of undesirable reactive species. El Moncef, Abdelkarim, elmonab@alumni.uv.es ; Cuquerella Alabort, Maria Consuelo, Chelo.Cuquerella@uv.es ; Zaballos Garcia, Elena, Elena.Zaballos@uv.es ; Ramirez de Arellano Sanchez, Maria del Carmen, Carmen.Ramirezdearellano@uv.es ; Stiriba, Salah Eddine, Salah.Stiriba@uv.es ; Perez Prieto, Julia, Julia.Perez@uv.es

Photosensitised Seeding of Thiolate-Stabilised Gold Nanoparticles

CCDC 743200: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Abdelkarim El Moncef, M. Consuelo Cuquerella, Elena Zaballos, Carmen Ramírez de Arellano, Abdeslem Ben-Tama, Salah-Eddine Stiriba and Julia Pérez-Prieto|2010|Chem.Commun.|46|800|doi:10.1039/B915792A