PHOTOPHYSICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF Cu(II) CHLORIN e(4) AND Cu(II) CHLORIN e(6) AS A LEAD COMPOUND OF PHOTOSENSITIZER FOR PDT

Porphyrin derivatives are potential compounds for diagnostic agent and photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy. However, they have a weakness in molar absorptivity, especially in visible region of Q band which used to excite them. Due to incapabilities of porphyrin, other tetrapyrole derivatives, such as chlorophyllin can be alternative for a lead compound of photosensitizer. In the present research, two chlorin derivatives were isolated from commercial chlorophyllin product. Their photophysical and physicochemical properties, i.e. molar absorptivity, quantum yield of fluorescence and quantum yield of singlet oxygen were determined. Chlorophyllin carboxylic acid form, Cu(II)-chlorin e(4) and Cu(II)-chlorin e(6), were successfully isolated with recovery of 11.33% and 16.46%, respectively. The absorption spectrum of Cu(II)-chlorin e(4) showed an intense Soret band at 406 nm and two weaker Q bands at 628nm, 658nm. Fluorescence efficiency was 0.09 while efficiency for singlet oxygen at pH 6.3 and 7.4 were 0.0052 +/- 0.0017 and 0.0066 +/- 0.0012. Cu(II)-chlorin e(6) displayed soret band at 407nm and Q bands at 627nm, 663nm. Singlet oxygen at pH 6.3 was 0.0029 +/- 0.0007, while at pH 7.4 was 0.0034 +/- 0.0001. However, Cu(II)-chlorin e(6) did not show fluorescence.