Cell internalization of BODIPY-based fluorescent dyes bearing carbohydrate residues

Abstract Red-absorbing BODIPY species have been prepared and their photophysical properties have been studied. The high fluorescence quantum yield of such compounds allowed us to study their cell internalization by fluorescence microscopy, using concentration as low as nM. The results indicate that the new species are internalized within VERO cells and that the clathrin-dependent mechanism plays a crucial role in the cell internalization of the dyes.