Calorimetric and spectroscopic investigations of interactions between cucurbituril Q7 and gemcitabine in aqueous solutions

Abstract

Studies on the interactions between cucurbituril Q7 and gemcitabine (Gem) hydrochloride in water were carried out using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). According to ITC and ESI-MS, the formation of this complex occurs in both the solution containing excess gemcitabine and the solution containing excess cucurbituril Q7. ITC results confirm the formation of a thermodynamically stable supramolecular complex with stoichiometry 1:1. The inclusion mechanism of Gem inside the cucurbituril macromolecule is spontaneous (DG\0). This process is exothermic (DH\0) and is characterized by the loss of entropy (DS\0).

Thixotropic Hydrogels Based on Laponite® and Cucurbituril for Delivery of Lipophilic Drug Molecules

“…[20] To date, several drug molecules have been complexed with CBs and they range from anticancer to antituberculosis agents, local anesthetics, and others. [20][21] Furthermore, the construction of hydrogels/CBs have been considered as potential tools to develop innovative drug delivery systems since the final hydrogels allowed a slow release of the active species. [22] Flufenamic acid (2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] amino benzoic acid) (FFA), a compound of class II, is a drug with analgesic properties because of its anti-inflammatory and antipyretic actions.…”

“…In the recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the use of CBs as macrocyclic hosts for applications in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, since their cavity provides a hydrophobic void for the inclusion of hydrophobic molecules and carbonyl groups that can coordinate ions or charged species [20] . To date, several drug molecules have been complexed with CBs and they range from anticancer to antituberculosis agents, local anesthetics, and others [20–21] . Furthermore, the construction of hydrogels/CBs have been considered as potential tools to develop innovative drug delivery systems since the final hydrogels allowed a slow release of the active species [22]…”