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Visible light-activated cobalt phthalocyanine/UiO-67 composite: A novel approach to photodynamic antibacterial
Anadil Gul1, Munir Ahmad2, Rizwan Ullah3
1College of Health Science and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen Technology University, Pingshan District, Shenzhen 518118, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518060, China.
Abstract:
Metallophthalocyanines (MPcs) are highly promising photosensitizers owing to their exceptional photoelectronic properties, yet their practical photocatalytic applications are often limited by strong π-π self-aggregation. In this study, we report a facile in situ strategy to incorporate cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) into the porous matrix of UiO-67 metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), effectively suppressing aggregation and enhancing photo-activity. The resulting composite, UCoP2-32, exhibited outstanding antibacterial photodynamic therapy (APDT) performance under visible light, achieving over 96 % inactivation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) within 12 min of light exposure. Photophysical studies confirmed the efficient generation of both type-I and type-II reactive oxygen species (ROS), with superoxide and hydroxyl radicals predominating, and electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis supported this mechanism. Moreover, UCoP2-32 demonstrated excellent biocompatibility with minimal hemolysis (∼6.4 % at 110 μM) and structural stability. This work provides a robust and broadly applicable strategy for integrating MPcs into MOFs, offering significant potential for the development of high-performance photocatalytic materials in antimicrobial and other light-driven applications.
