Ferrous iron-dependent delivery of therapeutic agents to the malaria parasite.

Background: The malaria parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax generate significant concentrations of free unbound ferrous iron heme as a side product of hemoglobin degradation. The presence of these chemically reactive forms of iron, rare in healthy cells, presents an opportunity for parasite-selective drug delivery. Accordingly, our group is developing technologies for the targeted delivery of therapeutics to the intra-erythrocytic malaria parasite. These so-called 'fragmenting hybrids' employ a 1,2,4-trioxolane ring system as an iron(II)-sensing 'trigger' moiety and a 'traceless' retro-Michael linker to which a variety of partner drug species may be attached. After ferrous iron-promoted activation in the parasite, the partner drug is released via a β-elimination reaction.

Methods: In this report, we describe three orthogonal experimental approaches that were explored in order to generate in vitro proof-of-concept for ferrous iron-dependent drug delivery from a prototypical fragmenting hybrid.

Conclusion: Studies of two fragmenting hybrids by orthogonal approaches confirm that a partner drug species can be delivered to live P. falciparum parasites. A key advantage of this approach is the potential to mask a partner drug's intrinsic bioactivity prior to release in the parasite.