In vitro photosensitization with a benzoporphyrin derivative

Biophysical and photobiological properties of two benzoporphyrin derivatives were examined. These dyes exhibit substantial absorbance in the red, and are potent photosensitizers in vitro. After brief (0.5 h) incubations, phototoxicity was more closely correlated with membrane than with mitochondrial photodamage. Affinity of these dyes toward plasma lipoproteins are consistent with a mode of localization via the LDL-mediated mechanism utilized by the hematoporphyrin-derived product, HPD.