Supramolecular PEGylation of biopharmaceuticals.

The covalent modification of therapeutic biomolecules has been broadly explored, leading to a number of clinically approved modified protein drugs. These modifications are typically intended to address challenges arising in biopharmaceutical practice by promoting improved stability and shelf life of therapeutic proteins in formulation, or modifying pharmacokinetics in the body. Toward these objectives, covalent modification with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has been a common direction. Here, a platform approach to biopharmaceutical modification is described that relies on noncovalent, supramolecular host-guest interactions to endow proteins with prosthetic functionality. Specifically, a series of cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7])-PEG conjugates are shown to substantially increase the stability of three distinct protein drugs in formulation. Leveraging the known and high-affinity interaction between CB[7] and an N-terminal aromatic residue on one specific protein drug, insulin, further results in altering of its pharmacological properties in vivo by extending activity in a manner dependent on molecular weight of the attached PEG chain. Supramolecular modification of therapeutic proteins affords a noncovalent route to modify its properties, improving protein stability and activity as a formulation excipient. Furthermore, this offers a modular approach to append functionality to biopharmaceuticals by noncovalent modification with other molecules or polymers, for applications in formulation or therapy.

Cucurbit[7]uril Enables Multi-Stimuli-Responsive Release from the Self-Assembled Hydrophobic Phase of a Metal Organic Polyhedron.

Mixed self-assembly of ligands 1, 2, 1,6-hexanediamine (HDA), and Pd(NO3)2 afforded Fujita-type metal organic polyhedron MOP1 (diameter ≈ 8.2 nm), which is covalently functionalized with an average of 18 cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) units, as evidenced by 1H NMR, diffusion-ordered spectroscopy NMR, and transmission electron microscopy measurements. By virtue of the host-guest properties of CB[7], the inner cavity of MOP can be rendered hydrophobic by using octadecyl HDA (3) as guest during the self-assembly process. The hydrophobic cavity was successfully utilized to trap the hydrophobic dye Nile Red (NR) and the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). The stimuli-responsive release of encapsulated NR or DOX occurs (1) upon addition of a competitive binder (e.g., adamantane ammonium (ADA)) for CB[7], (2) by a dual pH-chemical stimulus involving the protonation state change of adamantane carboxylate at pH 5.8, and (3) by a dual pH-photochemical stimulus involving photoisomerization of trans-6 to cis-6 at pH 5.8. NR is released from NR@MOP2 within HeLa cancer cells. This body of work suggests that the covalent attachment of cucurbit[n]uril to metal organic polyhedra constitutes a promising vehicle for the development of both diagnostic and therapeutic nanoparticles.

Host-Guest Tethered DNA Transducer: ATP Fueled Release of a Protein Inhibitor from Cucurbit[7]uril.

Host-guest complexes are emerging as powerful components in functional systems with applications ranging from materials to biomedicine. In particular, CB7 based host-guest complexes have received much attention for the controlled release of drugs due to the remarkable ability of CB7 toward binding input molecules in water with high affinity leading to displacement of CB7 from included pharmacophores (or from drug loaded porous particles). However, the release of bound guests from CB7 in response to endogenous biological molecules remains limited since the input biomolecule needs to have the appropriate chemical structure to bind tightly into the CB7 cavity. Herein we describe a synthetic transducer based on self-assembling DNA-small molecule chimeras (DCs) that is capable of converting a chosen biological input, adenosine triphosphate (ATP; that does not directly bind to the CB7 host), into functional displacement of a protein inhibitor that is bound within the CB7 host. Our system-which features the first example of a covalent CB-DNA conjugate-is highly modular and can be adapted to enable responsiveness to other biologically/clinically relevant stimuli via its split DNA aptamer architecture.

Cucurbit[7]uril-Tetramethylrhodamine Conjugate for Direct Sensing and Cellular Imaging.

This paper describes the design and synthesis of a conjugate (Q7R) comprising the synthetic host cucurbit[7]uril (Q7) linked to the fluorescent dye tetramethylrhodamine (TMR), and the characterization of its optical and guest-binding properties as well as its cellular uptake. Q7R was synthesized in two steps from monofunctionalized azidobutyl-Q7 and NHS-activated TMR. The fluorescence of Q7R is quenched upon guest binding, and this observable was used to determine equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) values. Unexpectedly, the Kd values for guests binding to Q7R and to unmodified Q7 were essentially identical. Therefore, Q7R can directly report binding to Q7 without an energetic penalty due to the conjugated fluorophore. This result demonstrates a potentially general strategy for the design of single-component host-indicator conjugates that respond sensitively to analytes without perturbing the binding properties of the host. The unique properties of Q7R enabled measurement of Kd values across 3 orders of magnitude and at concentrations as low as 0.7 nM. This result is particularly relevant given the unmatched range of guests and binding affinities demonstrated for Q7. Confocal fluorescence microscopy of live and fixed HT22 neurons revealed the cellular uptake of Q7R and its punctate localization in the cytoplasm. Q7R did not alter cell growth at concentrations up to 2.2 µM over 4 days. These experiments demonstrate the feasibility of Q7R as a direct sensor for guest binding and as a cell-permeable compound for imaging applications.

Synthesis and self-assembly processes of monofunctionalized cucurbit[7]uril.

We present a building-block approach toward functionalized CB[7] derivatives by the condensation of methylene-bridged glycoluril hexamer 1 and glycoluril bis(cyclic ethers) 2 and 12. The CB[7] derivatives Me2CB[7] and CyCB[7] are highly soluble in water (264 mM and 181 mM, respectively). As a result of the high intrinsic solubility of Me2CB[7], it is able to solubilize the insoluble benzimidazole drug albendazole. The reaction of hexamer 1 with glycoluril derivative 12, which bears a primary alkyl chloride group, gives CB[7] derivative 18 in 16% isolated yield. Compound 18 reacts with NaN3 to yield azide-substituted CB[7] 19 in 81% yield, which subsequently undergoes click reaction with propargylammonium chloride (21) to yield CB[7] derivative 20 in 95% yield, which bears a covalently attached triazolyl ammonium group along its equator. The results of NMR spectroscopy ((1)H, variable-temperature, and DOSY) and electrospray mass spectrometry establish that 20 undergoes self-assembly to form a cyclic tetrameric assembly (204) in aqueous solution. CB[7] derivatives bearing reactive functional groups (e.g., N3, Cl) are now available for incorporation into more complex functional systems.

Metal Organic Polyhedra: A Click-and-Clack Approach Toward Targeted Delivery.

Mixed self-assembly of ligands 1 and 2, PXDA (3), and Pd(NO3)2 afforded metal organic polyhedra (MOP 1 - MOP 3) which bear 24 covalently attached CB[7] and cyclooctyne moieties. Post assembly modification (PAM) of MOP 3 by covalent strain promoted alkyne azide click reaction provided MOP 4 R bearing covalently attached functionality (PEG, sulfonate, biotin, c-RGD, fluorescein and cyanine). Orthogonal CB[7] guest mediated non-covalent PAM of MOP 4 R with Ad-FITC afforded MOP 5 RGD Ad-FITC and MOP 5 biotin 0020Ad-FITC. Flow cytometry analysis of the uptake of MOP 5 RGD Ad-FITC toward U87 cells demonstrated improved uptake relative to control MOP lacking c-RGD ligands. These results suggest a broad applicability of orthogonally functionalizable (covalent and non-covalent) MOPs in targeted drug delivery and imaging applications.

Predictive recognition of native proteins by cucurbit[7]uril in a complex mixture.

The recognition of human growth hormone (hGH) by the synthetic host molecule cucurbit[7]uril (Q7) was predicted on the basis of its N-terminal phenylalanine. An aqueous-compatible resin with covalently immobilized Q7 groups was prepared and shown to recognize native insulin and hGH in simple and complex mixtures.

Synthesis and Recognition Properties of Cucurbit[8]uril Derivatives.

A building block approach to the synthesis of Me4CB[8] and Cy2CB[8] by condensation of glycoluril hexamer 1 with bis(cyclic ethers) 2 is reported. X-ray crystallography demonstrates that the equatorial substitution results in an ellipsoidal cavity. Me4CB[8] and Cy2CB[8] display enhanced aqueous solubility and retain the ability to bind to guests (3-9) typical of unsubstituted CB[8]. The higher inherent solubility of Me4CB[8] allowed it to be used as a solubilizing excipient for insoluble drugs.

Acyclic Cucurbit[n]uril Dendrimers.

The synthesis of acyclic cucurbit[n]uril dendrimers G1-G3 that bear four dendrons on their aromatic sidewalls via thiolate S(N)2 chemistry is reported. G1-G3 are polycationic and can bind to pEGFP plasmid DNA as shown by dynamic light scattering (DLS), gel electrophoresis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The gene delivery ability of G1-G3 is presented.