A model photosensitizer, hematoporphyrin (HP), captured by graphene oxide (GO) nanocarrier with and without the treatment by sulfuric acid was investigated for UV-VIS absorption, luminescence properties and Raman scattering. We demonstrate that combination of optical techniques can be efficiently used to detect an interfacial structure of hematoporphyrine/graphene oxide (HP/GO) nanoensembles. Finally, stable in aqueous media at neutral pH HP/GO nanocomposite were obtained as a result of esterification reaction catalyzed by sulfuric acid. The nanocomposite with stronger absorption and emission represents a layered structure composed of hematoporphyrine oligomers adsorbed on the surface of GO in monolayer through electrostatic and pi-stacking interactions. The formation of such hybrid structures, where graphene oxide plays a role of a non-toxic sheet-like nanocarrier, open the way to create a functional nanocomposites with a high level of selective emission and efficient photosensitizing ability utilizing unique graphene properties as singlet oxygen generation enhancer. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.