Implantable Tin Porphyrin-PEG Hydrogels with pH-Responsive Fluorescence

Biomacromolecules. 2017 Feb 13;18(2):562-567. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b01715. Epub 2017 Feb 1.

Abstract

Tetracarboxy porphyrins can be polymerized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) diamines to generate hydrogels with intense, near-infrared, and transdermal fluorescence following subcutaneous implantation. Here, we show that the high density porphyrins of the preformed polymer can be chelated with tin via simple incubation. Tin porphyrin hydrogels exhibited increasing emission intensities, ratios, and lifetimes from pH 1 to 10. Tin porphyrin hydrogel emission was strongly reversible and pH responsiveness was observed in the physiological range between pH 6 and pH 8. pH-sensitive emission was detected via noninvasive transdermal fluorescence imaging in vivo following subcutaneous implantation in mice.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fluorescence*
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Mice
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polymers / administration & dosage
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Porphyrins / chemistry*
  • Prostheses and Implants
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Tin / chemistry*

Substances

  • Hydrogels
  • Polymers
  • Porphyrins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Tin