ADSORPTION-ISOTHERM FOR DOXORUBICIN ON ERYTHROCYTE-MEMBRANE

The interaction of doxorubicin with erythrocyte-membrane was investigated to elucidate the mechanism(s) by which doxorubicin is taken up by erythrocytes. The uptake of intact and disrupted erythrocyte-ghosts was determined by using equilibrium dialysis. The adsorption isotherms revealed that the amount of doxorubicin adsorbed per unit weight of the erythrocyte-ghosts, at a given drug concentration, was similar to that of disrupted erythrocyte-ghosts. Also, the ratio of the calculated adsorption rate to desorption rate and the theoretical strength of the bonds between doxorubicin and the adsorption sites were the same for both systems. The results indicated that the uptake of doxorubicin by erythrocyte-ghosts may not be an encapsulation phenomenon, but rather an adsorption one. © 1990 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.