Scientists conducted a study showing that the stability of porphyrins, which are important in cancer treatment, depends on the choice of solvent. They found that adding specific atomic groups could increase the stability of these compounds by 500-fold. These data could lead to the creation of more effective catalysts used in medicine and ecology. The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation and published in the journal Dyes and Pigments.
Porphyrin is an organic pigment used in cancer treatment and in the fight against bacteria and chemical pollution. The interaction of porphyrins with oxygen creates a reactive oxygen species that can destroy tumor and bacterial cells. However, this activation can also destroy the porphyrin itself, shortening its lifespan. Scientists from various institutes in Moscow conducted a study to find out how to control the breakdown rate of porphyrins. They found that the choice of solvent can significantly affect the stability of porphyrins and that the addition of fluorine can increase their stability by 500-fold.
Project leader Kirill Birin pointed out the importance of improving the chemistry of photocatalysts and establishing a link between the structure of molecules and the efficiency of reactions. Researchers have proposed a new way to evaluate the efficiency of a photocatalyst, that is, the concentration of reactive oxygen species in the system. This approach takes into account not only the process of producing the active form of oxygen, but also the processes of its deactivation, making it more general and meaningful.
Source: Ferra
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