Fullerene–porphyrin hybrid nanoparticles that generate activated oxygen by photoirradiation

Abstract

The preparation of water-dispersible hybrid nanoparticles comprising fullerene and porphyrin from cyclodextrin complexes is described. In the presence of polyethylene glycol, C₆₀ fullerene and porphyrin were expelled from the cyclodextrin cavity to form fullerene–porphyrin hybrid nanoparticles in water. The fullerene–porphyrin hybrid nanoparticles exhibit improved singlet oxygen generation ability under photoirradiation compared with that of C₆₀ nanoparticles.