The Photodynamic Antibacterial Activity Properties of a Series of Indium(III) Porphyrins and their Gold and Silver Nanoparticle Conjugates

Abstract

In(III) tetraarylporphyrin complexes with 4‐thiomethylphenyl (1‐InPor), thien‐3‐yl (2‐InPor), thien‐2‐yl (3‐InPor) and 5‐bromothien‐2‐yl (4‐InPor) meso‐aryl rings have been synthesized and characterized. The complexes have been conjugated to gold and silver nanoparticles (AuNPs and AgNPs). The photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) activities of 1‐4‐InPor and their AuNP and AgNP conjugates have been investigated against both planktonic bacteria and biofilms of Gram‐(+) S. aureus and Gram‐(−) E. coli. 2.5 µg.mL−1 solutions of 1‐4‐InPor exhibited favorable PACT activities against planktonic S. aureus with high Log10 reduction values in the 4.28−7.69 range upon 75 min photoirradiation with a Thorlabs M625L3 LED (240 mW.cm−2) mounted onto the illumination chamber of a Modulight 7710 medical laser system to provide a dose at the well‐plate of 86 mJ.cm−2.min−1. In contrast, low values in the 1.4−1.9 range were obtained against E. coli with 10 µg.mL−1 solutions. 1‐4‐InPor exhibited relatively low PACT activity against the biofilm cells of S. aureus and E. coli. Conjugation of 1‐4‐InPor to AgNPs and AuNPs significantly enhanced the PACT activities. This is demonstrated by the complete eradication of planktonic S. aureus at shorter irradiation times with high Log10 values > 7.69 and moderate Log10 values > 2 against planktonic E. coli for the meso‐thienylporphyrin conjugates.