Integrating water-exfoliated phosphorene into poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid: Stability and photoactivity potential
Year: 2026
Authors: Costanzo A., Caponio C., Coiai S., Cicogna F., Lorenzetti G., Pitzalis E., Dinelli F., Berretti E., Caporali S., Pucci A., Passaglia E.
Autors Affiliation: CNR Consiglio Nazl Ric, Ist Chim Composti OrganoMetall ICCOM CNR, Area Ricerca Pisa, Pisa, Italy; CNR Consiglio Nazl Ric, Ist Nazl Ott INO CNR, Area Ric Pisa, Pisa, Italy; CNR Consiglio Nazl Ric, Ist Chim Composti Organometall ICCOM CNR, Area Ric Firenze, I-50019 Florence, Italy; UNIFI Dipartimento Ingn Industriale DIEF, Florence, Italy; UNIPI Dipartimento Chim & Chim Industriale DCCI, Pisa, Italy; Scuola Super Sant Anna, Ctr Ric Interdisciplinare Sostenibilitae Clima, Via Santa Cecilian 24, I-56127 Pisa, Italy; Univ Padua, Dipartimento Ingn Ind, Via Gradenigon 6a, I-35131 Padua, Italy; Stockholm Univ, Dept Mat & Environm Chem, Svante Arrhenius Vag 16 C, Stockholm SE-10691, Sweden.
Abstract: In this study, we report the development and comprehensive characterization of novel poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based nanocomposites incorporating phosphorene nanoflakes. Phosphorene was produced by ultrasound-assisted exfoliation of black phosphorus in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a surfactant, and was then subsequently embedded into a PLGA matrix to fabricate phosphorene-PLGA nanocomposite films, prepared here for the first time, and emulsions. The structural, thermal, and photophysical properties of these hybrid materials were systematically investigated, with a focus on the interfacial interactions between the polymer matrix and the 2D nanofillers. The integration of phosphorene nanosheets significantly enhances the thermal stability of PLGA at elevated temperatures (with a notable shift of similar to 40 degrees C), while slightly accelerating its hydrolytic degradation at lower temperatures, resulting in a similar to 20 % reduction in molecular weight. More interestingly, the PLGA matrix plays a protective role, mitigating the degradation of phosphorene during the polymer hydrolytic degradation. Importantly, we study for the first time the photophysical behaviour of phosphorene nanoflakes embedded in PLGA emulsions, highlighting their potential for photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications. While free phosphorene nanoflakes exhibit outstanding photocatalytic activity in generating singlet oxygen, their embedding within PLGA micelles causes a marked suppression (similar to 90 %) of this activity, likely due to restricted oxygen diffusion in the polymeric environment. This previously unreported limitation is crucial for evaluating the applicability of phosphorene-PLGA systems in biomedical contexts, particularly in PDT.
Journal/Review: NEXT MATERIALS
Volume: 10 Pages from: 101529-1 to: 101529-15
KeyWords: Black phosphorus (bP); Water-based exfoliation; 2D-bP; PLGA/2D-bP hybrids; PhotoactivityDOI: 10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.101529
