Photoinduced energy transfer between water-soluble CdTe quantum dots and aluminium tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine

Thiol stabilized CdTe quantum dots (QDs) synthesized in aqueous phase were used as energy donors to aluminium tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (AlTSPc) through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Energy transfer occurred from the QDs to AlTSPc upon photoexcitation of the QDs. An enhancement in efficiency of energy transfer with the nature of the carboxylic thiol stabilizers on the QDs was observed. The results showed that for enhanced FRET to occur, the donor–acceptor distance has to be lower than the critical distance. The quenching constant K as well as the binding constant kb values were calculated suggesting strong interaction of the QDs with the AlTSPc. Study of the photophysics of AlTSPc in the presence of the QDs revealed a high triplet state yield, hence the possibility of using QDs in combination with phthalocyanines as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy. The triplet state lifetimes of AlTSPc in the presence of the QDs were calculated and the lifetime in the presence of CdTe capped with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) was found to be the longest. MPA capped QD in a mixture with AlTSPc resulted in long triplet lifetime and high triplet yield of the latter, and high energy transfer efficiency, hence was found to be most suitable as a potential candidate for photodynamic therapy of cancer studies.