Permeation behavior of porphyrin derivatives with different functional group positions across cancer cell membranes

Porphyrin, which shows selective accumulation in cancer cells, has attracted attention as a drug carrier. The influences of the functional porphyrin positions (β- and meso-positions) on porphyrin accumulation must be understood. In this work, we focused on the investigation of the phenyl functional group whose β-position influences cancer cell accumulation through direct membrane permeation and endocytosis. The endocytic pathway, in particular, is influenced by both clathrin-dependent and caveolae-dependent endocytosis.