Photochemical properties of metalloporphyrin-silver nanoparticle stabilized by polymeric micelle

Inspired by the chlorophyll-protein complex in photosynthesis, a core–shell hybrid micelle was prepared from poly(ethylene glycol)- block -poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PEG- b -P4VP), zinc tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin (ZnTPPS), and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). In the micellar core, AgNPs and ZnTPPS were dispersed through axial coordination. Structural and morphological characterizations of the complex micelle were carried out by transmission electron microscopy, laser light scatting, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. In the micellar solutions, ZnTPPS showed increased photostability due to a decrease in the generation of singlet oxygen. Furthermore, electron transfer from ZnTPPS to AgNPs was observed by photoreduction of methylviologen hydrate. These results promote a greater understanding of the appealing properties of the natural chlorophyll-protein complex, which has important implications in artificial photosynthetic reactions and antibacterial therapy.