Porphyrin nanocomposites in nanotechnology

Nanocomposite is a multiphase solid material where one of the phases has one, two or three dimensions of less than 100 nanometers (nm) or structures having nano-scale repeat distances between the different phases that make up the material. Incorporation of the different phases seem to enchance the use of either single phase. Porphyrins are tetrapyrrolic compounds and have been called the “pigments of life”. They have been used in Photodynamic and Sonodynamic therapy, magnetic resonance, fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging. However, their use in clinical medicine is limited due to their high hydrophilicity and stacking properties. Porphyrin solubility have been improved via the formation of some porphyrin composites. Porphyrins have been successfully incorporated into nanocomposites, showcasing their versatility and potential in various applications. Some of these nanocomposites have been prepared using the solution casting process. Examples of porphyrin nanocomposites include:Chitosan-Porphyrin Nanocomposite Films, Multifunctional Nanoparticles, CeO₂/Porphyrin Nanocomposites, Porphyrin, Phthalocyanines nanocomposites etc.. Porphyrin nanocomposite films have exhibited enhanced optical characteristics, including a reduced band gap and increased refractive index, due to the incorporation of porphyrin. This has potential applications in solar cells and other optical devices. Porphyrin nanocomposites have found application in biomedicine, photodynamic therapy (PDT), catalysis, electronics, and sensors, enhanced photocatalytic efficiency for degrading organic pollutants in environmental remediation. Some porphyrins composites due to their improved hydrophilicity has allowed for drug delivery, healing and repairing of damaged organs etc. This presentation outlines recent advances in Porphyrins nanocomposites and their applications.

Keywords: Porphyrins Nanocomposites, Nanotechnology, Chitosan-Porphyrin Nanocomposites, CeO₂/Porphyrin Nanocomposites.

Prof. Raymond Jagessar obtained his BSc (Distinction) in Chemistry/Biology from the University of Guyana (1992) and his PhD from the UK (1995). He was Assistant Lecturer at the University of Guyana, 1991-1992. He held three Post Doctoral Research Fellowships (PDF) at the University of South Carolina, Columbia (USA), Wichita State University, Kansas (USA) and the University of the West Indies during the period, 1996 1999. He is also accredited with a distinction in DiPEd (higher education) at the University of Guyana in 2022. He has several international awards, amongst them are Chartered Chemist, CChem, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, FRSC, UK, Research Grants etc. He is an awardee of the Guyana Innovation Prize and a Fellow of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences. His research interests are broad, covering the spectrum of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Chemical Biology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. He has published over one hundred (100) research articles, five book chapters, one book, three e-books and presented at over 100 conferences locally, regionally and internationally. He has given keynote presentations at several conferences at the international forum. He is a member of several editorial boards and reviewer to several journals. He is currently Professor of Chemistry at the University of Guyana (South America), former President of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences (2020-2023) and currently, Foreign Secretary of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences.