The effect of free radical scavenger and antioxidant on the increase in intracellular adriamycin accumulation induced by ultrasound.

Ultrasound could potentiate cytotoxicity of adriamycin on cancer cell line as a result of increased intracellular accumulation ascribed to cavitation. In order to determine which free radical led to increase of drug content, effects of the free radical scavenger and antioxidant on increased intracellular adriamycin accumulation by ultrasound were investigated. The intracellular drug content of adriamycin was lower in the group where histidine was administrated before ultrasound exposure and in the group where mannitol was added after sonication. Drug accumulation was also decreased in groups in which vitamin C administrated either before or after ultrasonic exposure. These results suggested that hydroxyl radical play the leading role in synergism between ultrasound and adriamycin.