Amino-retinoid compounds are made from all-trans-retinal and a selection of biogenic amines.  The synthetic amino mono-, bis-, and tetra-retinoid compounds are used as standards for the detection of these compounds in lipofuscin and melanolipofuscin of human retinal pigment epithelial cells.  These compounds and their oxidation products may be involved in the etiology of age-related macular degeneration.  Synthesis and isolation of selected amino-retinoid compounds will be described.

A2E, one of the amino-retinoid compounds to be discussed is non-toxic in its unoxidized form, yet forms cytotoxic photo-oxidation products.  Potential mechanisms for this cytotoxicity will be described, as well as the use of A2E and other amino-retinoid compounds as substrates for a targeted and triggered-drug delivery system.