Fullerene-porphyrin hybrid nanoparticles that generate activated oxygen by photoirradiation.

The preparation of water-dispersible hybrid nanoparticles comprising fullerene and porphyrin from cyclodextrin complexes is described. In the presence of polyethylene glycol, C 60 fullerene and porphyrin were expelled from the cyclodextrin cavity to form fullerene-porphyrin hybrid nanoparticles in water. The fullerene-porphyrin hybrid nanoparticles exhibit improved singlet oxygen generation ability under photoirradiation compared with that of C 60 nanoparticles.