Determination of adriamycin by enzyme immunoassay.

A solid phase immunoassay for the determination of adriamycin has been developed. Specific antibody against adriamycin was raised in rabbits after coupling adriamycin to bovine serum albumin. beta-D-Galactosidase labelled adriamycin was prepared by m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS) as a coupling reagent. This assay system followed the double antibody solid phase method for the B/F separation of antibody-bound and free adriamycin. By this method, from 0.5 to 100 ng of adriamycin could be detected. Using this assay system, drug levels were determined in serum of mice, following administration of adriamycin in a single dose of 15 mg/kg i.p., the peak appearing at 20 min after administration. The change of serum levels was found to be biphasic, and the half-life of beta-phase was about 5 h.