Study to Probe Subsistence of Host-Guest Inclusion Complexes of α and ß-Cyclodextrins with Biologically Potent Drugs for Safety Regulatory Dischargement.

Host-guest interaction of two significant drugs, phenylephrine hydrochloride and synephrine with α and ß-cyclodextrins were studied systematically. Initially two simple but reliable physicochemical techniques namely conductance and surface tension were employed to find out saturation concentration for the inclusion and its stoichiometry. The obtained 1:1 stoichiometry was further confirmed by two spectrometric methods, UV-Vis study and spectrofluorimetry. Significant shifts in IR stretching frequency also support the inclusion process. Relative stabilities of the inclusion complexes were established by the association constants obtained from UV-Vis spectroscopic measurements, program based mathematical calculation of conductivity data. Calculations of the thermodynamic parameters dictates thermodynamic feasibility of the inclusion process. Spectrofluorometric measurement scaffolds the UV-Vis spectroscopic measurement validating stability of the ICs once again. Mass spectroscopic measurement gives the molecular ion peaks corresponding to the inclusion complex of 1:1 molar ratio of host and guest molecules. The mechanism of inclusion was drawn by 1H-NMR and 2D ROESY spectroscopic analysis. Surface texture of the inclusion complexes was studied by SEM. Finally, the cytotoxic activities of the inclusion complexes were analyzed and found, Cell viability also balances for non-toxic behavior of the ICs. Moreover, all the studies reveal the formation of inclusion complexes of two ephedra free, alternatively emerging drugs (after their banned product having ephedra) SNP, PEH with α and ß-CD which enriches the drug delivery system with their regulatory release without any chemical modification.

Improvement of Cellular Uptake and Transfection Ability of pDNA Using α-Cyclodextrin-Polyamidoamine Conjugates as Gene Delivery System.

Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers are a class of unique nanomaterials which attracted attention because of their extraordinary properties, such as highly branched structure and types of terminal primary groups. In addition, development in PAMAM chemical modification has broadened its biological application especially for drug and gene delivery. In this study, PAMAMs are covalently conjugated onto α-Cyclodextrin (α-CD) via amide bonds obtaining the starburst cationic polymers (CD-PG2). The chemical structure and composition of CD-PG2 was characterized by IH NMR. Physicochemical and biological properties of CD-PG2/pDNA polyplex were evaluated by agarose gel retardation, stability test against DNasecñ, MTT assay, DLS measurement, CLSM observation, LDH leakage test, cellular uptake route analysis and in-vitro cell transfection. Results showed that CD-PG2 can efficiently condense pDNA into nanoscale particles with a narrow size distribution, and protect pDNA form DNase I degradation. Compared with free PEI-25K and commercial product Lipofectamine2000, CD-PG2 shows excellent gene transfection efficiency without serum interference as well as relatively low cytotoxicity. Cellular uptake of CD-PG2/pDNA polyplex is mainly through CME and CvME route and further investigations demonstrate that α-CD can regulate CvME pathway to improve polyplex transfection behavior. In conclusion, CD-PG2 can be considered as a versatile tool for gene delivery, especially for gene transfer in-vivo.

Fabrication and Characterization of Poly(ε-caprolactone)/α-Cyclodextrin Pseudorotaxane Nanofibers.

Multifunctional scaffolds comprising neat poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and α-cyclodextrin pseudorotaxanated in α-cyclodextrin form have been fabricated using a conventional electrospinning process. Thorough in-depth characterizations were performed on the pseudorotaxane nanofibers prepared from chloroform (CFM) and CFM/dimethylformamide (DMF) utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), rheology, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and Instron tensile testing. The results indicate the nanofibers obtained from chloroform retain the rotaxanated structure; while those obtained from CFM/DMF had significantly dethreaded during electrospinning. As a consequence, the nanowebs obtained from CFM showed higher moduli and lower elongations at break compared to neat PCL nanowebs and PCL/α-CD nanowebs electrospun from CFM/DMF.

Glucose-responsive polymer vesicles templated by α-CD/PEG inclusion complex.

Polymeric nanoparticles with glucose-responsiveness are of great interest in developing a self-regulated drug delivery system. In this work, glucose-responsive polymer vesicles were fabricated based on the complexation between a glucosamine (GA)-containing block copolymer PEG45-b-P(Asp-co-AspGA) and a phenylboronic acid (PBA)-containing block copolymer PEG114-b-P(Asp-co-AspPBA) with α-CD/PEG45 inclusion complex as the sacrificial template. The obtained polymer vesicles composed of cross-linked P(Asp-co-AspGA)/P(Asp-co-AspPBA) layer as wall and PEG chains as both inner and outer coronas. The vesicular morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the glucose-responsiveness was investigated by monitoring the variations of hydrodynamic diameter (Dh) and light scattering intensity (LSI) in the polymer vesicle solution with glucose using dynamic light scattering (DLS). Vancomycin as a model drug was encapsulated in the polymer vesicles and sugar-triggered drug release was carried out. This kind of polymer vesicle may be a promising candidate for glucose-responsive drug delivery.

NMR characterization of chemically synthesized branched α-dextrin model compounds.

1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts were accurately determined by consistent referencing for an extensive set of chemically synthesized branched α-glucan model compounds. The model compounds include anomerically fixed and reducing oligosaccharides ranging in size from isomaltose to a doubly branched decasaccharide. Both the 13C1 chemical shift and the 13C6 chemical shifts in α-(1→6) glycosidic bonds are strongly dependent on the chemical structure in the vicinity of the branch point, especially on the addition of glucopyranosyl units towards the non-reducing end of the backbone chain. The conformational sampling at the branch point of the branched α-glucan model compounds was experimentally probed with homo-nuclear scalar couplings. Substitution at O6 consistently increases the fraction of C6-O6 trans conformations, but to a lesser extent, if the attachment occurs at the reducing end residue. Increasingly complex structures in the vicinity of the branch point increase the population of the gauche-trans conformation of the C5-C6 bond. This population change is found to correlate with the 13C6 chemical shift.

Simple, clean preparation method for cross-linked α-cyclodextrin nanoparticles via inclusion complexation.

A simple, clean method was presented in this letter to prepare cross-linked α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) nanoparticles with a low dispersion. The nanoparticles were synthesized in water by cross-linking the inclusion complex of α-CDs and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The structure of the nanoparticles was characterized by (1)H NMR, nuclear overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY), and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD). Spherical morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for these nanoparticles. Their average hydrodynamic radius was determined to be 67 nm by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Small guest molecules could be included in the cross-linked α-CD nanoparticles, and anticancer drug cisplatin was used to evaluate the drug release behavior.

Synthesis of biocompatible hybrid magnetic hollow spheres based on encapsulation strategy.

A kind of novel magnetic hollow spheres was prepared by encapsulating magnetofluid into polymeric hollow spheres. Polymeric hollow nanospheres were constructed by self-assembly of rod-coil complexes, in which the rod-like segments were formed by inclusion of α-cyclodextrins (α-CD) and grafting poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains of chitosan-graft-PEG (CS-g-PEG). Structural characteristics of CS-g-PEG/α-CD hollow spheres were investigated in detail by NMR, XRD, TEM, etc. Furthermore, those hollow spheres showed a pH responsive property which induced a considerable change of their radius. Magnetofluid was physically entrapped into the empty domain while hollow spheres were formed, it was found that the hollow spheres can encapsulate large quantities of magnetofluid and the encapsulated magnetofluid still possess magnetic responsiveness properties. We expect that this strategy may be served as a novel and more straightforward approach to obtain magnetic hollow spheres for biomedical application.

Thiolated glycol chitosan bearing α-cyclodextrin for sustained delivery of PEGylated human growth hormone.

The extensive use of human growth hormone (hGH), emerging as protein therapeutics, has been limited by its instability in biological fluids and short biological half-life. In this study, thiolated glycol chitosan bearing α-cyclodextrin (TGC-CD), in situ cross-linked by poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate (PEG-DA), was synthesized to develop a sustained release system for PEGylated hGH (PEG-hGH). TGC-CD could form a stable inclusion complex with PEG-hGH by the physical interaction between the inner cavity of CD and PEG. Such a complex was readily cross-linked in the presence of PEG-DA via a Michael-type addition reaction. From the in vitro release experiments of PEG-hGH, it was confirmed that PEG-hGH was completely released from the complex for 12 h in PBS (pH 7.4), whereas the release rate of PEG-hGH was significantly reduced by the chemical cross-linking of the complex. PEG-hGH, released from the cross-linked complexes, maintained its structural integrity, which was demonstrated using circular dichroism spectroscopy. Overall, TGC-CD might be useful for sustained delivery of PEG-hGH.

Complete sets of monosubstituted cyclomaltohexaoses (α-cyclodextrins) as precursors for further synthesis.

Alkylation of cyclomaltohexaose (α-cyclodextrin, α-CD) with allyl or cinnamyl bromide, followed by peracetylation of remaining hydroxyl groups and separation of isomers, resulted in the set of peracetylated 2(I)-O-, 3(I)-O- and 6(I)-O-alkylated α-CDs in up to 27% yields. Ozonolysis or oxidative cleavage of peracetylated allyl or cinnamyl derivatives resulted in a complete set of peracetylated 2(I)-O-, 3(I)-O- and 6(I)-O-formylmethyl or carboxymethyl derivatives that are useful precursors for preparation of regioselectively monosubstituted derivatives of α-CD. Moreover, a quick method to recognize single 2(I)-O-, 3(I)-O- and 6(I)-O-monosubstituted peracetylated CDs from one another using only their (1)H NMR spectra has been proposed.

Photoresponsive molecular recognition and adhesion of vesicles in a competitive ternary supramolecular system.

A competitive photoresponsive supramolecular system is formed in a dilute aqueous solution of three components: vesicles of amphiphilic α-cyclodextrin host 1a, divalent p-methylphenyl guest 2 or divalent p-methylbenzamide guest 3, and photoresponsive azobenzene monovalent guest 5. Guests 2 and 3 form weak inclusion complexes with 1a (K(a)≈10(2) M(-1)), whereas azobenzene guest 5 forms a strong inclusion complex (K(a)≈10(4) M(-1)), provided it is in the trans state. The aggregation and adhesion of vesicles of host 1a is mediated by guest 2 (or 3) due to the formation of multiple intervesicular noncovalent links, as confirmed by using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), optical density measurements at 600 nm (OD600), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The addition of excess monovalent guest trans-5 to vesicles of 1a aggregated by divalent guest 2 (or 3) causes the dispersion of vesicles of 1a because trans-5 displaces 2 (as well as 3) from the vesicle surface. Upon UV irradiation of a dilute ternary mixture of vesicles of 1a, guest 2 (or 3), and competitor trans-5, compound trans-5 isomerizes to cis-5, and renewed aggregation of vesicles of 1a by guest 2 (or 3) occurs because 2 (as well as 3) displaces cis-5 from the vesicle surface. Subsequent visible irradiation causes the redispersion of vesicles of 1a because cis-5 reisomerizes into trans-5, which again displaces guest 2 (or 3) from the vesicle surface. In this way, the competitive photoresponsive aggregation and dispersion of vesicles can be repeated for several cycles.

Synthesis of new series of α-cyclodextrin esters as dopamine carrier molecule.

A new series of amphiphilic α-cyclodextrins were synthesized by grafting N-acylated amino acids [valine, leucine, phenylalanine, methionine, and tryptophan (3a-e)] to the primary hydroxyl groups via ester bond formation. The synthetic pathway involves selective hexa-bromination of the primary hydroxyls followed by per-substitution with the carboxylate moiety of the N-acetyl residues in the presence of DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene). The ability of the synthetic compounds for the extraction of dopamine was studied. The results showed a considerable ability of some of the amphiphilic compounds for the extraction of dopamine into octanol phase from water. To complete the study, the binding affinity of dopamine toward the synthetic host molecules was calculated by using of the molecular docking technique.

Prednisolone-α-cyclodextrin-star poly(ethylene glycol) polypseudorotaxane with delayed pH-sensitivity as a targeted drug delivery system.

The acylation of prednisolone 20-hydrazone with star poly(ethylene glycol) tetracarboxylic acid (M = 20,000) has been used to prepare the corresponding pH-sensitive conjugate. With α-cyclodextrin, this conjugate forms a polypseudorotaxane, which was characterised by means of (1)H NMR spectra, powder X-ray diffraction patterns and STM microscopy. The rate of acid-catalysed hydrolysis of the conjugate was studied under in vitro conditions in model media of hydrochloric acid solutions, phosphate and acetate buffers (pH 2-5.8). The acid-catalysed hydrolysis (at pH 2) of the polypseudorotaxane was ca 3.5 times slower than that of the original conjugate. After 1h in this medium, 86% of the covalently attached prednisolone remained unchanged. The prepared polypseudorotaxane represents a promising peroral transport system of prednisolone with a pH-sensitive linker with delayed acid-catalysed hydrolysis thanks to protection at the molecular level using α-cyclodextrin.

Controlled synthesis of linear alpha-cyclodextrin oligomers using copper-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.

The design and efficient synthesis of a novel class of linear oligomers based on cyclodextrins are described. These supramolecules have relatively rigid structures with well-defined topology and sizes, which could provide them with the ability to be used as scaffolds to present bioactive molecules to their receptors as well as host molecules.

Tubular duplex alpha-cyclodextrin triply bridged with disulfide bonds: synthesis, crystal structure and inclusion complexes.

Template-free oxidative dimerization of 6(I), 6(III), 6(V)-trisulfanyl-alpha-cyclodextrin proceeds with a remarkable efficiency (> or =94%) yielding an unprecedented duplex alpha-cyclodextrin triply bridged with disulfide linkages whose structure has been confirmed by X-ray analysis.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of multivalent carbohydrate ligands obtained by click assembly of pseudo-rotaxanes.

Multivalent carbohydrate ligands have been prepared by assembling alpha-cyclodextrin-based pseudo-rotaxanes through "click chemistry". The inclusion complex formed by a lactosyl-alpha-CD conjugate and a decane axle carrying a lactosyl stopper at one extremity and an azido group at the other end was dimerized by bis-propargyl spacers of different lengths to provide oligorotaxanes having adjustable threading ratios. For the first time, saccharidic ligands have been introduced on rotaxanes both as a biological recognition element and as a capping group. The supramolecular species have been isolated and characterized by mass spectrometry as well as by 1D and DOSY NMR experiments. Their ability to inhibit the binding of Arachis hypogaea agglutinin to asialofetuin, assayed by enzyme linked lectin assays (ELLA), was shown to be valency-dependent.

Rigid duplex alpha-cyclodextrin reversibly connected with disulfide bonds. Synthesis and inclusion complexes.

The rigid duplex cyclodextrin 6 composed of two alpha-cyclodextrin macrocycles connected with two disulfide bonds in "transannular" (C6(I), C6(IV)) positions was prepared from partially debenzylated alpha-cyclodextrin 1 in four steps in 73% overall yield. In the last key step involving oxidative coupling of the thiol 5, predominance of the target duplex 6 can be attained under conditions of thermodynamic control. The structure of duplex cyclodextrin was established by MS as well as 2-D NMR methods and confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray analysis. The ability of the duplex cyclodextrin 6 to bind alpha,omega-alkanediols (C9-C14) and 1-alkanols (C9 and C10) was studied by isothermal titration calorimetry in aqueous solutions. The stability constants of the complexes gradually increase with the alkyl chain length and reach an unprecedently high value of K = 8.6 x 10(9) M(-1) for 1,14-tetradecanediol. It was found that the doubly bridged dimer 6 exhibits higher binding affinity toward the series of alpha,omega-alkanediols than the singly bridged analogue 10 by about 2 orders of magnitude in K (M(-1)) or 3.1-3.3 kcal/mol in deltaG(o), the enhancement being due to enthalpic factors. Theoretical calculations using DFT-D methods suggest that the enthalpic contribution stems from dispersion interactions.

Multiple homo- and hetero-functionalizations of alpha-cyclodextrin through oriented deprotections.

Introduction of one or more functions on a cyclodextrin in a regioselective manner is a complex task. The discovery of a blueprint strategy involving regioselective deprotection reactions of fully protected cyclodextrins, instead of functionalization of native cyclodextrins, allowed us to propose an efficient alternative to reach this goal. In this paper, we have applied previously delineated strategies, based on steric decompression, to duplicate our deprotection reaction, using a combination of mono- or di-deprotections to access cyclodextrins with two, three and five points of attachment for one, two or three different new functions. The patterns of multi-functionalization delineated here are not accessible by any other methods. Indeed, it is the first time ever a cyclodextrin bearing four different groups is synthesized in a completely controlled manner. This work paves the way to the use of cyclodextrins as multi-functional macrocyclic scaffolds, a use they have long been meant for, but lack of reliable functionalization methods hindered this development.

Cerebral blood volume quantification in a C6 tumor model using gadolinium per (3,6-anhydro) alpha-cyclodextrin as a new magnetic resonance imaging preclinical contrast agent.

In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cerebral blood volume (CBV) quantification is dependent on the MRI sequence and on the properties of the contrast agents (CAs). By using the rapid steady-state T(1) method, we show the potential of gadolinium per (3,6-anhydro) alpha-cyclodextrin (Gd-ACX), a new MRI paramagnetic CA (inclusion complex of Gd(3+) with per (3,6-anhydro)-alpha-cyclodextrin), for the CBV quantification in the presence of blood-brain barrier lesions. After biocompatibility and relaxivity experiments, in vivo experiments on rats were performed on a C6 tumor model with 0.05 mmol Gd-ACX/kg (<1/10 of the median lethal dose) injected at a 25 mmol/L concentration, inducing neither nephrotoxicity nor hemolysis. On T(1)-weighted images, a signal enhancement of 170% appeared in vessels after injection, but not in the tumor (during the 1 h of observation), in contrast to the 90% signal enhancement obtained with Gd-DOTA (a clinical MRI CA) injected at a T(1) isoefficient dose. This result shows the absence of Gd-ACX extravasation into the tumor tissue and its confinement to the vascular space. Fractional CBV values were found similar to Gd-ACX and Gd-DOTA in healthy brain tissue and in the contralateral hemisphere of tumor-bearing rats, whereas only Gd-ACX was appropriate for CBV quantification in tumor regions.

Synthesis and allylation at the all O-6 positions of cyclomaltohexaose.

A method for preparation of per-6-O-substituted cyclodextrin derivatives was developed. The thermostable cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) formed mainly cyclomaltohexaose 2 from amylose 1. The compound 2 was selectively converted to 3 without protection of the other hydroxyl groups by allylation at the all O-6 positions in excess base.