The influence of functional groups on the permeation and distribution of antimycobacterial rhodamine chelators

The structural features of rhodamine-labelled 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinones chelators determine chelators' permeation through biological membranes and their cellular uptake by macrophages. Accordingly, these chelators have a superior ability to reach the infection target, an important point that improves their efficacy as antimycobacterial agents for controlling intramacrophagic growth of Mycobacterium avium.175