Chloroquine delivery to erythrocytes in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice using antibody-bearing liposomes as drug vehicles.

ABSTRACT

Suitability of anti-erythrocyte F(ab')2-bearing liposomes as vehicles for chloroquine in the treatment of chloroquine resistant Plasmodium berghei infections in mice has been examined. Free chloroquine or chloroquine encapsulated in antibody-free liposomes failed to show much effect on the resistant infections, but the same doses of this drug after being encapsulated in antibody-bearing liposomes exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on this infection. These results indicate that chloroquine delivery in antibody targeted liposomes may help in the successful treatment of the chloroquine resistant malarial infections.