Structure-performance relationships of four lysosomal markers used for the imaging of HT-29 cancer cells and a cellular model of lysosomal storage disease (Niemann-Pick C)

Four new BODIPY derivatives with a potential tendency to aggregation have been synthesized and characterized by means of NMR techniques, mass spectrometry UV–Vis/fluorescence spectroscopies. The objective this study is determine which structural factors the molecules influence most notably cellular uptake, intracellular location fluorescence imaging abilities. behaviour compounds in organic solvent aqueous solution has studied. In solvents (DMSO, ethanol toluene), photophysical properties are almost independent building blocks used synthesize pendant moieties (non-fluorogenic parts). an environment (HEPES Buffer Solution, pH 7), at 10 μM, three (1, 2 4) tend form weakly emissive nanoparticles (DLS determination) whereas one them (3) remains soluble highly fluorescent. nanomolar range concentration, all soluble. internalisation (10 nM) studied human colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells flow cytometry confocal laser scanning microscopy. All were uptaken cells, but molecule 3 (made lysine as block) was displaying higher loading more clear lysosomal (0.88 Pearson's correlation coefficient colocalization assays using fluorescent probe LysoTracker DND-99). Molecule also performed better than valine derivative 1 marker model (human adrenal carcinoma SW13/cl.2 cells) storage disease (Niemann-Pick type C).