Studies on interpolymer self-organisation behaviour of protoporphyrin IX bound poly(carboxylic acid)s with complimentary polymers by means of fluorescence techniques

Covalently bound protoporphyrin IX was used as a fluorophore to investigate the interpolymer complex formation between the poly(carboxylic acid)s, PMAA/PAA and poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone), PVP, poly(ethylene oxide), PEO or poly(ethylene glycol), PEG. Absorption and emission spectral properties of protoporphyrin IX bound to PAA, PMAA and PVP have been studied. Protoporphyrin IX in poly(MAA-co-PPIX) was found to be present in the dimer or higher aggregated form at low pH due to the environmental restriction imposed by the polymer whereas in the case of poly(AA-co-PPIX) and poly(VP-co-PPIX), PPIX exists in monomeric form. The fluorescence intensity and lifetime of PPIX bound to poly(carboxylic acid)s increase on complexation through hydrogen bonding with PVP, PEO and PEG due to the displacement of water molecules in the vicinity of the PPIX. Poly(MAA-co-PPIX) shows longer fluorescence lifetime due to the more compact interpolymer complexation as compared to poly(AA-co-PPIX) due to the enhanced hydrophobicity of PMAA. Poly(VP-co-PPIX) shows a decrease in the fluorescence lifetime on complexation with PMAA or PAA due to the hydrophilic and microgel like environment of the fluorophore bound to PVP. The contrasting behaviour of the same polymer adduct with respect to the site of the fluorophore is interpreted to be due to the solvent structure which determines the environment of the fluorophore.