Reversible binding of anthracycline antibiotics to erythrocytes treated with glutaraldehyde.

Human erythrocytes treated with glutaraldehyde can take up anthracycline antibiotics (daunorubicin and doxorubicin) from the incubation medium and do so faster than untreated cells. The antibiotics are readily released when the suspending medium is replaced with an antibiotic-free one. Our findings provide evidence that glutaraldehyde-treated erythrocytes remain capable of reversible binding of anthracycline antibiotics.