Use of specific polyclonal antibodies for site specific drug targeting to malaria infected erythrocytes in vivo.

The possibility of using specific polyclonal antibodies for effective site specific drug targeting to malaria infected erythrocytes has been examined. For this purpose, rabbit polyclonal antiserum was raised against Plasmodium berghei infected mouse erythrocytes (IRBC) and extensively absorbed with normal erythrocytes (NRBC). Absorbed antiserum specifically recognized IRBC. F(ab')2-fragments of these antibodies were coupled to chloroquine (chq) laden liposomes. These immunoliposomes when tested in vivo significantly suppressed malarial infection in mice.