Nanofiber membranes generating singlet oxygen with magnetic separation

This thesis focuses on the preparation and study of a new type of photoactive polyurethane nanofiber membrane with encapsulated 5,10,15,20-meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) photosensitizer and maghemite nanoparticles. The membrane was prepared by electrospinning and shows effective photogeneration of O2 (1 Δg) and photoantibacterial effect on the surface. The membrane can be easily separated by a magnetic field. The magnetic behaviour of the maghemite nanoparticles was studied using Mössbauer spectroscopy. Their size was estimated by DLS. The final nanofiber membrane was characterized by UV-VIS, emission spectroscopy, and by electronic microscopy (SEM). The kinetics of O2 (1 Δg) generation was studied by time-resolved spectroscopy and the relative efficiency of photooxidation was studied using external acceptor of O2 (1 Δg). Significant photoantibacterial properties against bacteria strain Escherichia coli were detected on the surface of the membrane functionalized with TPP photosensitizer