Molecular association between doxorubicin (adriamycin) and DNA-derived bases, nucleosides, nucleotides, other aromatic compounds, and proteins in aqueous solution.

Doxorubicin (adriamycin) forms molecular associations with other aromatic and planar molecules (hetero-association) and with other doxorubicin molecules (self-association) in aqueous solution. The ability of doxorubicin to form complexes was demonstrated in a nonbiological system by measuring the doxorubicin partition coefficient. A decreased apparent doxorubicin activity coefficient in the presence of complex formation was also demonstrated in a biological system by measuring the transmembranous doxorubicin transport and the doxorubicin distribution at equilibrium in human red blood cells and their suspending medium. Doxorubicin formed complexes in aqueous solution at 37 degrees (pH 7.3) with (a) DNA-derived bases, nucleosides, and nucleotides; (b) amino acids such as tryptophan; (c) proteins such as human serum albumin and hemoglobin; and (d) a broad range of biologically active compounds such as NAD, propanthelline, caffeine, chloroquine, imipramine, and propranolol. The apparent thermodynamic quantities of the complex formation with adenosine 5'-triphosphate were delta H0, -9.5 kcal . mole-1; delta S0, -19 eu . mole-1; and delta G0 (310 degrees K), -3.6 kcal . mole-1. The binding forces of the molecular associations were probably hydrophobic (short-range force), sometimes supported by electrostatic interaction (long-range force).