Binding of chlorpromazine and imipramine to red cells, albumin, lipoproteins and other blood components.

The binding of model drugs to human blood and individual blood components has been determined by equilibrium dialysis and expressed in terms of classes of binding sites, association constants and binding capacities. Chlorpromazine and imipramine are bound to three major components: membranes of red cells, albumin, and lipoproteins. The affinity and capacity of lipoprotein binding is at least as high as that of albumin and is equally distributed on HDL, LDL, VLDL, and on the chylomicrons. White blood cells and platelets are of minor importance in terms of binding capacity. No binding was detected with gamma-globulins or alpha- or beta-globulins other than lipoproteins. In contrast, salicylic acid was not bound to red cells or lipoproteins.