The synthesis and photodynamic properties of meso-substituted, cationic porphyrin derivatives in HeLa cells

A series of asymmetric porphyrins with varying substituents, such as 4-hydrophenyl and N-methyl-4-pyridyl, were synthesized and characterized and their cell uptake, intracellular localization, cytotoxicities and phototoxicities were evaluated in vitro. The most phototoxic of the porphyrins synthesized, 5,10-di-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)-15,20-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-21,23H-porphyrin, which was mainly localized in the mitochondria and displayed low levels of dark toxicity toward human cancer HeLa cells, offers potential application in photodynamic therapy.