Visible light-activatable multicargo microemulsions with bimodal photobactericidal action and dual colour fluorescence

IIN THIS CONTRIBUTION WE REPORT THE DESIGN, PREPARATION, PHYSICO-CHEMICAL, PHOTOPHYSICAL AND PHOTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PHOTOACTIVATABLE MICROEMULSIONS (ME) BASED ON Labrasol®, isopropanol and Lauroglycol® FCC as surfactant, co-surfactant and oily phase, respectively. THE ME CO-INCORPORATE, IN THEIR OIL PHASE, TWO LIPOPHILIC GUESTS SUCH AS A RED EMITTING SINGLET OXYGEN (1O2) PHOTOSENSITIZER (PS) AND A TAILORED GREEN EMITTING NITRIC OXIDE (NO) PHOTODONOR (NOPD). These two chromofluorogenic units absorb in different spectral windows of the visible range, and their individual photophysical and photochemical properties are well-conserved WHEN CO-ENTRAPPED IN THE MICROEMULSIONS. THESE FEATURES PERMIT THE PS AND NOPD TO BE OPERATED EITHER INDIVIDUALLY OR IN TANDEM RESULTING IN THE i) red, green or both fluorescence emission ii) photogeneration of the cytotoxic 1O2, NO or both and iii) amplified photobactericidal action against Stapylococcus aureus due to the combined effect of these two cytotoxic agents.