Quantitative comparison of excited state properties and intensity- dependent photosensitization by rose bengal

A quantitative (multistep) excitation-deactivation model of rose bengal (RB) has been developed which includes energy and electron transfer to oxygen and the possibility of photoproduct formation via higher excited triplet-singlet states. The model is based on previous measurements of non-linear absorption (NLA) and emission of RB with picosecond pulses at 532 nm and on NLA measurements with nanosecond pulses. A coupled rate equation and photon transport equation approach for non-linear light-matter interaction is used. The resulting term scheme with all relevant excited state parameters confirms that (i) in the first excited state of RB, relevant absorption at 532 nm takes place only in the triplet, and (ii) the previously reported intensity dependence of RB-sensitized enzyme inhibition is well modelled by the intensity-dependent RB-T1 population and (as the main process) subsequent energy transfer to form singlet oxygen.