A carboxylatopillar[5]arene-based pH-triggering supramolecular photosensitizer for enhanced photodynamic antibacterial efficacy.

A pH-triggering supramolecular antibacterial photosensitizer was constructed by host-guest interaction between a water-soluble porphyrin photosensitizer and carboxylatopillar[5]arene (P[5]). The formation of the supramolecular complex not only improves the biocompatibility of the photosensitizer, but also enhances antibacterial efficacy by pH-triggering dissociation under the low pH bacterial microenvironment.