Silica nanoparticles grafted with phthalocyanines: photophysical properties and studies in artificial lysosomal fluid

Silica nanoparticles grafted with phthalocyanines (tetra-substituted non-peripherally with 4-carboxyphenoxy and 3-carboxyphenoxy groups) have been synthesized, characterized and their photophysical properties evaluated in solution. The phthalocyanine dyes have a free carboxyl group facilitating the covalent attachment of the dye onto the silica surface via ester bond formation. The photophysical properties of the hybrid nanoparticles show higher fluorescence and triplet quantum yields as well as longer triplet lifetimes as compared to the free phthalocyanines. The triplet quantum yields were found to be higher for the phthalocyanines with ester bonds as compared to the amide bonded linkages. The silica nanoparticles were also studied in artificial lysosomal fluid over a period of 96 h and the dissolution of the nanoparticles was monitored and confirmed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.