| Abstract |
In order to develop new photosensitizers for anticancer and antibacterial applications, the goal of this project is to synthesize organic semiconductor nanoparticles that have a heterogeneous structure and can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under light irradiation. Organic semiconductor optoelectronic materials with heterostructures were originally used in organic solar photovoltaic cells. When the donor PM6 and acceptor Y6 were used to prepare solar cells, the wide light absorption range (350-900 nm) significantly increased the photoelectric conversion efficiency of organic solar photovoltaic cells to 18 %. Inspired by this work, our team proposed that the organic semiconductor nanoparticles could be used as the medium to control the concentration of ROS in animals and plants by using light of specific wavelengths, thus inhibiting the growth of fungi and the proliferation of cancer cells. Moreover, the organic semiconductor nanoparticles exhibit the following characteristics including (1) wide absorption range capable of endowing the selection of excitation light more flexible, e.g. NIR light penetrates deeper into the skin, (2) organic semiconductors mostly composed of non-toxic elements such as carbon and nitrogen, being relatively harmless to humans and plants, and (3) the promoted efficiency of the photo-triggered ROS reaction due to long-lived photo-triggered electron lifetime, thus showing potential to be developed as materials for photo-elicited ROS. |
