Abstract
The synthesis and purification of radiolabelled immunoconjugates, composed of a human IgM monoclonal antibody (IgM 16.88) directed against an intracellular tumour-associated antigen, the drug carrier poly[N5-(2-hydroxyethyl)--glutamine] (PHEG) and the cytostatic drug adriamycin (ADR) are described. The immunoconjugates were constructed to allow selective release of ADR in the putatively acidic environment of the tumour through a novel acid-labile maleamic acid linker. The conjugate of PHEG and the acid-labile ADR derivative effectively released ADR in cytotoxic amounts at a pH of 6.0 as judged from incubation in buffer and from inhibition of the growth of HT-29 colon tumour cells in vitro. Immunoconjugates were prepared by coupling of PHEG-ADR having a hydrolytically stable amide bond with 131I-labelled antibody through thioether bond formation involving a single thiol group at the C-terminus of the polymer chain and maleimido groups introduced onto the
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 245-266 |
Number of pages | 22 |
Journal | Journal of controlled release |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 38 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1996 |