COMBINING LIGHT AND ULTRASOUND TO GENERATE REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES USING A PORPHYRIN-CARBON DOT NANOPLATFORM

This study investigates the potential of nitrogen-doped carbon dots (NCDs) combined with the porphyrin TCPP as a nanoplatform for sonophotodynamic therapy (SPDT). The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized NCDs were characterized, and their interaction with TCPP was explored. Reactive oxygen species generation under light, ultrasound, and simultaneous sonophotodynamic irradiation was evaluated using selective probes for singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals. TCPP showed wavelength-dependent singlet oxygen generation under light irradiation, whereas ultrasound-induced responses suggested complex interactions between the sensitizers and cavitation-generated reactive species. Under simultaneous light and ultrasound irradiation, singlet oxygen production was intermediate between photodynamic and sonodynamic conditions. Overall, the results indicate that singlet oxygen generation in this system is predominantly driven by photoactivation, while ultrasound may contribute to the process through sonoluminescence-mediated excitation.