In vitro photosensitization I. Cellular uptake and subcellular localization of mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6, chloro-aluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine, and photofrin II.

The mechanisms of cellular uptake, subcellular localization, and cellular retention kinetics of the photosensitizers photofrin II (PfII), mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 (MACE), and chloro-aluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine (CASPc) are reported in this paper. Each photosensitizer's cellular uptake mechanism was determined by preferentially inhibiting endocytosis by chilling cells to 2 degrees C, while allowing diffusion across the membrane. Subcellular localization was studied by computer-enhanced low-light level video fluorescence microscopy, while flow cytometry was used to determine uptake and retention kinetics. The results indicate that PfII enters the cell primarily by diffusion across the membrane, whereas MACE and CASPc enter the cell through endocytosis.