Theoretical and experimental study of the inclusion complexes of the 3-carboxy-5,6-benzocoumarinic acid with cyclodextrins

Comparative Interaction Studies of Quercetin with 2-Hydroxyl-propyl-β-cyclodextrin and 2,6-Methylated-β-cyclodextrin

Quercetin (QUE) is a well-known natural product that can exert beneficial properties on human health. However, due to its low solubility its bioavailability is limited. In the present study, we examine whether its formulation with two cyclodextrins (CDs) may enhance its pharmacological profile. Comparative interaction studies of quercetin with 2-hydroxyl-propyl-β-cyclodextrin (2HP-β-CD) and 2,6-methylated cyclodextrin (2,6Me-β-CD) were performed using NMR spectroscopy, DFT calculations, and in silico molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Using T1 relaxation experiments and 2D DOSY it was illustrated that both cyclodextrin vehicles can host quercetin. Quantum mechanical calculations showed the formation of hydrogen bonds between QUE with 2HP-β-CD and 2,6Μe-β-CD. Six hydrogen bonds are formed ranging between 2 to 2.8 Å with 2HP-β-CD and four hydrogen bonds within 2.8 Å with 2,6Μe-β-CD. Calculations of absolute binding free energies show that quercetin binds favorably to both 2,6Me-β-CD and 2HP-β-CD. MM/GBSA results show equally favorable binding of quercetin in the two CDs. Fluorescence spectroscopy shows moderate binding of quercetin in 2HP-β-CD (520 M⁻¹) and 2,6Me-β-CD (770 M⁻¹). Thus, we propose that both formulations (2HP-β-CD:quercetin, 2,6Me-β-CD:quercetin) could be further explored and exploited as small molecule carriers in biological studies.

Host-guest inclusion complex of propafenone hydrochloride with α- and β-cyclodextrins: spectral and molecular modeling studies

Host-guest inclusion complexes of cyclodextrins (CDs) with a potential cardiovascular drug propafenone hydrochloride (PFO), were prepared and characterized using absorption, fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, SEM, FT-IR, DSC, (1)H NMR, XRD and PM3 methods. The spectral studies suggested the phenyl ring along with carbonyl group is present inside of CD cavity. Solvent studies revealed that the normal Stokes shifted band originates from the locally excited state and the large Stokes shifted band occurs due to the emission from ICT. Nanosecond time-resolved studies indicated that PFO exhibits biexponential decay in water and triexponential decay in CD, indicating the formation of 1:1 inclusion complex. The results from solid state studies showed important modifications in the physicochemical properties of free PFO. The ΔH, ΔG and ΔS of the complexation process were determined and it was found that the complexation processes were spontaneous. Investigations of thermodynamic and electronic properties confirmed the stability of the inclusion complex.

Inclusion complexes of quercetin with three β-cyclodextrins derivatives at physiological pH: spectroscopic study and antioxidant activity

Properties of the inclusion complexes of quercetin (QUE) with sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD), hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), and methylated-β-cyclodextrin (M-β-CD) in tris-HCl buffer solutions of pH 7.40 were investigated. The stoichiometry and thermodynamic parameters for the complexation process (stability constants K, Gibbs free energy change ΔG, enthalpy change ΔH and entropy change ΔS) were determined using phase-solubility and fluorescence spectra analysis. The thermodynamic studies indicated that the inclusion reactions between QUE and the three β-CDs are enthalpy-driven processes. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy indicated that B-ring, C-ring, and part of A-ring of QUE interact with the cavity of β-CDs. The antioxidant activity of QUE and its inclusion complexes were determined by the scavenging of stable radical DPPH(*). The results showed that the complexed QUE/CDs were more effective than free QUE, with the QUE/SBE-β-CD complex as the best form.

Experimental and theoretical study of the inclusion complexes of 3-carboxycoumarin acid with β- and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrins

The association process of a host-guest system, cyclodextrins (CyD) - 3-carboxycoumarin acid (3CCA) was followed by means of UV-vis, circular dichroism and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopies in buffer solution at pH=1. The experimental data were analyzed in order to get information on the stoichiometry, the equilibrium constants and the geometry of the inclusion complexes. In the circular dichroism spectra, a positive induced signal was obtained reflecting that the guest penetrates the cavity in such a way that the transition moment of the electronic band is quasi parallel to the host main axis. The experimental data are supported by the DFT and TDDFT (B3LYP/6-31G) calculations performed on the isolated ligand and by TDDFT (ZINDO) calculations carried out on the supramolecular ligand-cyclodextrin system.

Experimental and theoretical study of the interaction of 3-carboxy-5,6-benzocoumarin with some 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydroacridines and the corresponding N-oxides

The interaction of 3-carboxy-5,6-benzocoumarin (BzCum) with 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydroacridine (OHA), 9-amino-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydroacridine (H(2)N-OHA) and the corresponding N-oxides (OHA-NO and H(2)N-OHA-NO) was studied by fluorescence (steady state, time resolved) and absorption spectroscopy. The analysis of the fluorescence data in terms of Stern-Volmer plots indicated a predominant dynamic quenching for OHA and OHA-NO, and a more complex process for H(2)N-OHA and H(2)N-OHA-NO. The dynamic process was assigned to a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from the acridine derivatives to the excited state of BzCum. The application of the Rehm-Weller-Marcus theory leads to a good agreement with literature data and allows for the estimation of the solvent organization energy. The presence of the PET mechanism was also supported by DFT results. The absorption spectra evidence the formation of a ground state complex assigned to a hydrogen bond complex involving the carboxylic hydrogen of BzCum.

Characterization, phase solubility and molecular modeling of alpha-cyclodextrin/pyrimethamine inclusion complex

An inclusion complex between the dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor pyrimethamine (PYR) and alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) was prepared and characterized. From the phase-solubility diagram, a linear increase of PYR solubility was verified as a function of alpha-CD concentration, suggesting the formation of a soluble complex. A 1:1 host-guest stoichiometry can be proposed according to the Job's plot, obtained from the difference of PYR fluorescence intensity in the presence and absence of alpha-CD. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements provided additional evidences of complexation such as the absence of the endothermic peak assigned to the melting of the drug. The inclusion mode characterized by two-dimensional (1)H NMR spectroscopy (ROESY) involves penetration of the p-chlorophenyl ring into the alpha-CD cavity, in agreement to the orientation optimized by molecular modeling methods.

The use of coumarins as environmentally-sensitive fluorescent probes of heterogeneous inclusion systems

Coumarins, as a family of molecules, exhibit a wide range of fluorescence emission properties. In many cases, this fluorescence is extremely sensitive to the local environment of the molecule, especially the local polarity and microviscosity. In addition, coumarins show a wide range of size, shape, and hydrophobicity. These properties make them especially useful as fluorescent probes of heterogeneous environments, such as supramolecular host cavities, micelles, polymers and solids. This article will review the use of coumarins to probe such heterogeneous systems using fluorescence spectroscopy.