Effect of the preparation method of silver and gold nanoparticles on the photosensitizing properties of tetraphenylporphyrin–amphiphilic polymer—nanoparticle systems

Abstract

The ranges of concentrations of silver and gold nanoparticles in which the rate constants of the test for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) reaction of oxidation of tryptophan in an aqueous medium in the presence of photosensitizer remain virtually the same (without nanoparticles) are found. This testifies to the feasibility of causing additional photothermal damage on tumor cells by transforming the absorbed energy of electromagnetic radiation in the area of the plasmon resonances of the administered nanoparticles into heat energy in the PDT of tumors. Metal nanoparticles are obtained by photochemical and chemical methods, and by laser ablation. Tetraphenylporphyrin solubilized with Pluronic F127 (to attain its solubility in aqueous systems), the optical absorption band of which is close to the plasmon absorption bands of nanoparticles, is used as a photosensitizer.