Antileishmanial activity of amphiphilic chlorin derivatives mediated by photodynamic therapy

•Chlorin derivatives exhibited a rapid entry into Leishmania and were found in the cytoplasm and lysosomes of the parasites.•These PSs do not exhibit aggregation in aqueous medium and rapidly accumulate in acidic compartments of Leishmania parasites.•Chlorin derivatives induced in L. amazonensis promastigote forms an apoptotic-like and necrotic processes after irradiation.