Evaluation of sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanines for use in photochemotherapy. Cellular uptake studies

Cellular uptake of aluminum phthalocyanine sulfonated to different degree was studied by means of fluorescence measurements and HPLC chromatography. These results were correlated to the lipophilic property of each drug measured as the distribution of the drug between a lipophilic phase (Triton X-114) and an aqueous phase. All the sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanines were taken up into cells to a higher extent than porphyrins of a similar lipophilicity. The cellular uptake of monosulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine was 10-fold higher than the cellular uptake of tetrasulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine and at least 50% higher than tetra(3-hydroxy-phenyl)porphin which is so far the porphyrin shown to be taken up into cells to the highest extent.