Triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion followed by FRET for the red light activation of a photodissociative ruthenium complex in liposomes

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2015 Nov 7;17(41):27380-90. doi: 10.1039/c5cp04352b.

Abstract

Upconversion is a promising way to trigger high-energy photochemistry with low-energy photons. However, combining upconversion schemes with non-radiative energy transfer is challenging because bringing several photochemically active components in close proximity results in complex multi-component systems where quenching processes may deactivate the whole assembly. In this work, PEGylated liposomes were prepared that contained three photoactive components: a porphyrin dye absorbing red light, a perylene moiety emitting in the blue, and a light-activatable ruthenium prodrug sensitive to blue light. Time-dependent spectroscopic studies demonstrate that singlet perylene excited states are non-radiatively transferred to the nearby ruthenium complex by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Under red-light irradiation of the three-component membranes, triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) occurs followed by FRET, which results in a more efficient activation of the ruthenium prodrug compared to a physical mixture of two-component upconverting liposomes and liposomes containing only the ruthenium complex. This work represents a rare example where TTA-UC and Förster resonance energy transfer are combined to achieve prodrug activation in the phototherapeutic window.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Energy Transfer
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer*
  • Light*
  • Liposomes / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Photochemical Processes*
  • Ruthenium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Liposomes
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Ruthenium