Ferrocene-based porous polymer as advanced environmental remediation material for self-enhanced synergetic photothermal-enzymatic antibacterial and reversible iodine capture

Water pollution, associated with both the modern productions and pathogen contamination, has become a worldwide safety concern, seriously threatening the health of living beings. Herein, a multifunctional porous polymer, denoted as Fc-PP-POP, composed by porphyrin (PP) and Ferrocene (Fc) unites, capable of self-enhanced synergetic antibacterial effect, as well as reversible capture of iodine pollutants, was facilely prepared through the simple but efficient Alder-Longo method via direct polymerization of pyrrole with Ferrocene dialdehyde. Fc-PP-POP integrated the features of Porphyrin (photoactivity) and Ferrocene (enzymatic activity), simultaneously, can serve as a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent, which could not only realize the rapidly and efficiently converting of light energy into local thermal energy for photothermal therapy (PTT), but also the transformation of low concentration of H2O2 into toxic hydroxyl radical (center dot OH) for the enzyme therapy. The as-generated local heat could further improve the enzymatic activity, displaying a remarkably enhanced synergistic therapeutic effect, realizing the efficient sterilization at low concentrations (300 mu g/mL). In vivo assay revealed Fc-PP-POP can significantly promote the healing of infected wounds. Meanwhile, Fc-PP-POP can function as an efficient adsorbent, capturing the iodine contaminants from the environment. This work opens up a new mean for the application of low-cost POPs in the field of environmental remediation and public health.

Automated summary

Water pollution is a global issue that seriously threatens the health of living beings. In this study, a multifunctional porous polymer, Fc-PP-POP, was successfully prepared, which exhibited enhanced antibacterial effect and iodine pollutant capture. This polymer combined the photoactivity of porphyrin with the enzymatic activity of ferrocene, enabling efficient conversion of light energy into thermal energy for photothermal therapy and transformation of low concentration H2O2 into toxic hydroxyl radicals for enzyme therapy. In addition, Fc-PP-POP promoted wound healing and efficiently adsorbed iodine contaminants from the environment.