Endosomal Membrane (via photochemical disruption)

The endosomal membrane is a lipid bilayer enclosing endosomes, which are vesicles involved in intracellular trafficking. Photochemical disruption is a targeted strategy to destabilize this membrane using light-activated photosensitizers, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) that induce oxidative damage and facilitate the release of entrapped therapeutic agents into the cytosol.

Other names

Photochemical Internalization (PCI)Photochemical disruption of endosomal membraneEndosomal escape via photochemical activationLight-induced endosomal disruption

Photoactivation of photosensitizers generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) which oxidize lipids and proteins in the endosomal membrane, leading to its destabilization or rupture and release of entrapped cargo into the cytosol.