The visualization of cell structures by fluorescent vital probes to study cell
organelles, cell viability and signaling processes has great importance in biomedical
sciences. Main interest is devoted to the uptake, accumulation and prediction of
localization of drugs and xenobiotics in cultured cells. Mechanistic aspects and
predictive rules are studied using numerical parameters, which conform the quantitative
structure-activity relationships (QSAR) for vital probes. The uptake of probes into cells
is the first step for labeling. Several mechanisms of cell uptake and accumulation in
cell organelles are known, the most relevant being passive diffusion and active
endocytosis (i.e. adsorptive and fluid-phase, binding to receptors). In addition to
theoretical predictions, direct cytotoxic effects, photodynamic action, and fading must
be taken into account in the microscopical evaluation of uptake and localization of
fluorescent probes.
Keywords: Acridine orange, Amphiphilicity, Autofluorescence, Benzothiazoles,
Chromatin DNA, Colocalization, DiOC1(3), Golgi apparatus, Hoechst dyes,
Hydroethidine, Hydrophobic index, Log P, Lysosomes, Merocyanine 540,
Mitochondria, Nile red, QSAR, Rhodamine 123, Trypan blue.
