Spectral-luminescent properties of cationic indotricarbocyanine dyes in cancerous cells and solutions

Abstract

The spectral-luminescent properties of symmetrical indotricarbocyanine dyes with the same cation and different anions (Br−, BF4−) in cancerous HeLa cells, an isotonic solution of NaCl, and organic solvents have been investigated. It is shown that when these dyes are present in cells in nontoxic concentrations, they are in a monomeric state, they are localized in the region with a low dielectric permeability, bonded to biological macromolecules, and do not make contact with an aqueous medium. It has been established for the first time that the molecules of the polymeric dyes are present in cells predominantly in the form of contact ion pairs, and in a dye with the Br− anion the presence of free cations or solvately separated ionic pairs is revealed. It is shown that the shift of the ion equilibrium toward contact ion pairs for the dyes in the cells (as compared to the low-polarity organic solvents) can be due to the fairly high concentration of salts in the biosystem.