Distribution of porphyrin sensitizers among protein and cellular blood elements

The distribution of porphyrin pigments between plasma proteins and blood cells was studied. It was shown that the relative fraction of sensitizer bound by blood cells changed significantly depending on the physicochemical features of pigment molecules. This parameter strongly correlates with porphyrin polarity. Polar watersoluble tetraphenylporphin derivatives, chlorine e6 and hematoporphyrin are bound by plasma proteins only. The decrease in pigment polarity by substitution of polar side groups results in a drastic increase of pigment affinity to blood cells. The binding of extremely apolar pigments by cells in blood occurs for a long period of time, probably as a result of a low rate of pigment redistribution between serum proteins and cellular membrane. The data obtained show that blood cells may be involved into the control of pigment transport and distribution in organism during photodynamic therapy. The parameters of porphyrin distribution between plasma proteins and cells in blood are of certain importance when the pharmacokinetic behavior of various sensitizers is compared.