Optical and photophysical properties of the chlorin-type photosensitizer photolon in aqueous solutions of different acidities

Photolon is a modern compound for fluorescence diagnostics and photodynamic therapy, which was relatively recently introduced into clinical practice. In the present work, we study its electronic-absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra (excited at different visible wavelengths), and fluorescence quantum yields. The characteristics are studied in aqueous solutions with pH 6.0–7.5 and compared under identical conditions with the corresponding characteristics of other chlorin- or porphyrin-type compounds (Photoditazin, Radachlorin, Dimegin) for photodynamic diagnostics and therapy. It is shown that the studied properties of Photolon are very close to those of Photoditazin and Radachlorin. At the same time, chlorin products are found to be more effective than Dimegin at pH 7.5, which is close to the pH of blood, while Dimegin is the most effective in solutions with lower pH, for example, in distilled water.