Evaluation of the relationship of the molecular aggregation state of amphotericin B in medium to its genotoxic potential

This work analyzes the genotoxicity potential, in the G2 phase of the cellular cycle, of an amphotericin B (AmB) commercially available form (Fungizone(TM)), and correlates it with the physicochemical properties of this product in aqueous media. The genotoxic studies were performed using peripheral blood lymphocytes from human donors. The chromosome aberrations and mitotic index were determined. Absorption spectra of Fungizone(TM) were obtained by dispersion of the stock solution in water for injection at various AmB concentrations, and using different cuvette path lengths for spectrophotometric determination. The absorption spectra of Fungizone(TM) in water are concentration dependent. High concentrations of Fungizone(TM) present a spectrum with an intense band at 340 nm, characteristic of AmB self-association. Conversely, at low concentrations, the spectra are similar to those obtained with AmB in methanol, with a positive band at 409 nm, assigned to AmB monomeric form. Similarly, the cytogenetic analysis shows an important decrease on the mitotic index, which is also concentration dependent when compared with control. Furthermore, the chromosome aberrations present a small, not statistically significant, increase only at the highest concentration. The results suggest that the Fungizone(TM). presents a cytotoxicity similar to membrane pore formation in mammalian cells that depends on the existence of self-associated AmB. In the presence of only monomeric forms, this phenomenon disappears. However, no genotoxicity was observed in this study. (C) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.