Comparative study of molecular recognition of folic acid subunits with cyclodextrins.

The complexation of pteroic acid and pterine, subunits of folic acid, with native cyclodextrins (α‒, ß‒, and γ‒CDs) was studied in solution (UV-vis), and in the solid state (thermal analysis, IR and Raman). UV-vis titrations at pH = 7.4 provided data regarding stoichiometry of the formed complexes as well as their associations constants. Stability of the complexes increases in the series: γ‒CD < ß‒CD << α‒CD for pterine, and γ‒CD < α‒CD << ß‒CD for pteroic acid. The mode of complexation was further exploited by molecular modeling studies (docking studies, PM6) showing additionally changes in conformation of pteroic acid upon complexation. Comparison of the association constants of the complexes of pterine and pteroic acid with native cyclodextrins with data obtained for analogous complexes with folic acid shows that all folic acid complexes are less stable than those formed from its subunits.

Comparison of Aqueous and 1-Octanol Solubility as well as Liquid-Liquid Distribution of Acyclovir Derivatives and Their Complexes with Hydroxypropyl-ß-Cyclodextrin.

The aim of the presented work is the comparison of aqueous and 1-octanol solubilities of different acyclovir derivatives and their hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes. The solubility measurements were carried out at different temperatures over the range 25-45 °C using water, 1-octanol, water saturated with 1-octanol, 1-octanol saturated with water, buffered aqueous solutions (pH = 5.5 and 7.0) and buffered aqueous solutions containing cyclodextrin as solvents. The aqueous solubilities of the compounds are very low but may be enhanced by complexation with hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin, especially if the acyclovir derivatives have aromatic groups which may be included in the cyclodextrin cavity. The values of 1-octanol-water partition coefficients of acyclovir derivatives, obtained using extraction experiments, showed a similar sequence as the solubility results in 1-octanol. Additionally, some molecular mechanics and molecular dynamic calculations were performed to determine optimized structures of acyclovir derivative complexes with ß-cyclodextrin treated as a model.

Structural diversity in native cyclodextrins/folic acid complexes--from [2]-rotaxane to exclusion compound.

The formation of different complexes of folic acid depending on the size of the host cyclodextrin resulting in either an exclusion compound (with the smallest α-cyclodextrin) or 2-rotaxane, where cyclodextrin is threaded over folic acid (with ß- and γ-cyclodextrins), is presented. The formation is carried out in water which allows both possible application in pharmaceutical sciences and usage of environmentally friendly "green chemistry". The obtained compounds are thoroughly characterized using one and two dimensional NMR, mass spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis.