Uptake and phototoxic effects of aluminum-chlorophthalocyanine (AlSPc) in human bladder carcinoma cells.

In vitro experiments were performed on human bladder carcinoma cells to evaluate the uptake of aluminum-chlorophthalocyanine (AISPc) and the subcellular target of phototoxicity. In order to quantify the correlation of intracellular uptake and incubation time and to identify the primary subcellular target of phototoxicity, fluorescence and absorption measurements have been carried out as well as electron microscopic studies. Absorption and fluorescence measurements showed the largest value after 24 h of incubation time. Fluorescence microscopic studies suggested the sensitizer to be located in a brighter patch within cytoplasm. Electron microscopic studies using DAB (3,3' diaminobenzidine) staining showed that the mitochondria are the primary target of phototoxic activity of AlSPc and that the majority of vacuoles of treated cells were originally mitochondria.