Macromolecular prodrugs. XII. Primaquine conjugates: Synthesis and preliminary antimalarial evaluation

New primaquine conjugates 5-7 with glucosamine and two polymers of polyaspartamide type, poly[α,β-(N-2-hydroxyethyl-DL-aspartamide)] (PHEA) and poly[α,β-(N-3-hydroxypropyl-DL-aspartamide)] (PHPA), were synthesized, characterized and screened for their antimalarial activity. The conjugates differed in the type of covalent bonding, length of the spacer between the polymeric carrier and drug, molecular mass and drug-loading. Blood-schizontocidal activity of the prepared conjugates was tested against Plasmodium berghei infection in Swiss mice. Polymeric conjugates showed better antimalarial activity than the glucosamine conjugate.