NOVEL ASYMMETRIC PHOTOSENSITIZERS - AN IN-VITRO STUDY

A series of compounds based on an asymmetrical protoporphyrin molecule have been examined, The paired groups of sensitizers differed in term s of the presence or absence of a permanent positive charge, in the al kyl side chain length and in having either a primary or secondary amin e substituent. The effects of these variables on drug uptake, partitio n coefficient and photodynamic eel kill were tested. Drug uptake and p artition coefficient were shown to be correlated. Differences in gross uptake were found within paired groups of sensitizers although cell-a ssociated uptake alone did not correlate with clonogenic cell survival , Of the compounds tested it was the sensitizers with alkyl side chain s, rather than the permanently positively charged compounds, which res ulted in the greatest degree of clonogenic cell kill.