Harnessing the Photocatalytic Potential of Polypyrroles in Water through Nanointervension: Synthesis and Photophysical Evaluation of Biodegradable Polypyrrolic Nanoencapsulates

Abstract

Polypyrroles, being natural mimics, have promising photophysical properties which facilitate light harvesting. Due to the lack of solubility in aqueous media, their practical applications are restricted. Hence, the development of biodegradable polymeric nanoencapsulates can be of considerable interest to leverage the photophysical properties of polypyrroles. Herein, we report the high-yielding synthesis of polypyrroles (BODIPYs and porphyrins) which were further encapsulated into PLGA polymer to impart hydrophilicity into them. The polypyrroles and their nanoencapsulates were further examined for photophysical properties (namely, fluorescence quantum yield, singlet oxygen quantum yield, and fluorescence lifetime measurements). Then the photocatalytic dye degradation potential of the synthesized entities in the presence of low-cost LED lights was evaluated and correlated with their photophysical characteristics. This photocatalytic phenomenon exhibited by the polypyrrolic nanoencapsulates can be further translated for various light harvesting applications.

Development of Meso‐Substituted Heterocyclic BODIPY‐Based Polymeric Nanoparticles for Pathogen Inhibition using Photodynamic Therapy**

“… [54] Further, BDPs ( 3 a , 3 b , 3 c , 3 d , 3 e , and 3 f ) were synthesized from the oxidation of dipyrromethanes in the presence of DDQ in toluene at room temperature. Following the addition of triethylamine (TEA) and BF 3 ‐etherate at room temperature, the resultant mixture was stirred for 30 min [28] . Finally, meso‐substituted heterocyclic BODIPYs were isolated by column chromatography with good to moderate yields (Scheme 1).…”

“…Boron dipyrromethene‐based fluorescent dyes (BODIPY or BDP) are valuable and versatile probes that are potentially attractive for photodynamic applications [23–27] . Several characteristics of BDP such as easy chemical synthesis, high extinction coefficients, resistance to photo‐bleaching, and robustness towards various pH ranges make them emerging candidates as PSs for photodynamic applications [28–30] . Few reports are available for the BDP as promising sensitizers in antimicrobial and anticancer photodynamic therapy [20,31–37] .…”

Lignin-Based CdS Dots as Multifunctional Platforms for Sensing and Wearable Photodynamic Coatings

“…The fluorescence spectrum of the developed fluorescent probe L@CdS QDs was recorded using a fluorescence spectrophotometer. , The standard solutions of rhodamine 6G and the fluorescent probe with different absorbance values, viz. 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.1, at 365 nm (excitation wavelength) were prepared.…”

Structure/Property Control in Photocatalytic Organic Semiconductor Nanocrystals

“…This is why the bandgap in molecular crystals is comparatively small, typically in the 1.5–3.5 eV range. Photocatlytic OSNs show a marked diversity, and can be generally categorized into the following families ( Figure ): small‐molecular phthalocyanines (PCs), [ 16 ] porphyrins, [ 17 ] perylene diimides (PDIs), [ 18 ] perylene monoimides (PMIs), [ 19 ] fullerenes (C 60 , C 70 ), and polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ), [ 20 ] polypyrroles (PPYs), [ 21 ] polythiophenes (PTHs), [ 22 ] polypyridine (PPyDs), [ 23 ] polyanilines (PANIs), [ 24 ] polyimides (PIs) [ 25 ] etc. Crystalline porous polymers are an important addition to the family of polymeric photocatalysts, encompassing a broad range of systems from metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) [ 6c ] to covalent organic frameworks (COFs).…”