The effect of macromolecular conjugates of daunorubicin on nuclear ultrastructure in Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense.

The effects of free and conjugated daunorubicin on T.b. rhodesiense in vitro are described. Free drug caused nucleolar lesions ranging from segregation to complete fragmentation. At equimolar concentrations a soluble bovine serum albumin conjugate with a stable succinyl linkage (D-BSAS) produced no ultrastructural lesions whereas a conjugate with a labile glutaraldehyde linkage (D-BSAG) and a conjugate linked to large agarose beads (D-ag) produced similar though less severe lesions than free drug. Polyisobutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles caused trypanosomal lysis both with (D-PICA) and without adsorbed daunorubicin.