Computational study of DMPC liposomes loaded with the N-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-propylpentanamide (HO-AAVPA) and determination of its antiproliferative activity in vitro in NIH-3T3 cells.

N-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-propylpentanamide (HO-AAVPA) is a valproic acid (VPA) derivative that has shown promising antiproliferative effects in different cancer cell lines, such as A204, HeLa, and MDA-MB-231. However, its low water solubility could reduce its therapeutic effectiveness. To solve this problem, in this work, we incorporated HO-AAVPA into dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) liposomes in the presence or absence of cholesterol (CHOL). Using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), we found that the transition enthalpy (ΔHtr) of DMPC liposomes is reduced in the presence of CHOL and/or HO-AAVPA, indicating the favorable interactions between CHOL and/or HO-AAVPA and DMPC. Further, by molecular dynamics simulations it was possible to observed that HO-AAVPA migrates from the center of the bilayer toward the water and lipid interface of the DPMC bilayer systems exposing the amine group to water and the aliphatic chain toward the interior of the bilayer. As a consequence, we observed an ordering of the lipid bilayer. Moreover, CHOL harbors into the inner bilayer membrane, increasing the order parameter of the system. The liposomal solutions loaded with HO-AAVPA were tested in the NIH3T3 cell line, showing a reduction in cell proliferation compared to those cells presented without liposomes.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Poloxamer-hydroxyethyl cellulose-α-cyclodextrin supramolecular gels for sustained release of griseofulvin.

Supramolecular gels of poloxamer-hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)-α-cyclodextrin (αCD) were developed aiming to obtain synergisms regarding solubilization and sustained release of griseofulvin for topical application. The effects of αCD concentration (0-10%w/w) on the phase behavior of aqueous dispersions of Pluronic(®) P123 (14%w/w) mixed with HEC (2%w/w) were evaluated at 4, 20 and 37°C. The cooperative effects of the inclusion complex formation between poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blocks and HEC with αCD prevented phase separation and led to supramolecular networks that solubilize the antifungal drug. Rheological and bioadhesive properties of gels with and without griseofulvin could be easily tuned modulating the polymers proportions. Supramolecular gels underwent sol-gel transition at lower temperature than P123 solely dispersions and enabled drug sustained release for at least three weeks. All gels demonstrated good biocompatibility in the HET-CAM test. Furthermore, the drug-loaded gels showed activity against Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes and thus may be useful for the treatment of tinea capitis and other cutaneous fungal infections.

A critical approach to the thermodynamic characterization of inclusion complexes: multiple-temperature isothermal titration calorimetric studies of native cyclodextrins with sodium dodecyl sulfate.

Inclusion complexes based on native cyclodextrins are basic building blocks for the design of a new generation of promising materials. The design process can be optimized by maximizing the population of the desired chemical species. This is greatly facilitated by an accurate characterization of the thermodynamic parameters for their formation. A critically assessed literature review of equilibrium constants for cyclodextrin:sodium dodecyl sulfate (CD:SDS) complexes is reported. We performed multiple-temperature isothermal titration calorimetric (283-323 K) measurements for these systems, leading to the first reported heat capacity changes of binding. Data were analyzed using two thermodynamic models by homemade programs that also provide the distribution of chemical species as a function of the experimental variables. Assisted by earlier molecular dynamic simulations, a microscopic-level discussion of the contributions to the thermodynamic parameters is given. On the basis of our results, a number of recommendations to obtain reliable association parameters for CD-based inclusion complexes are listed.

Similarities and differences between cyclodextrin-sodium dodecyl sulfate host-guest complexes of different stoichiometries: molecular dynamics simulations at several temperatures.

An extensive dynamic and structural characterization of the supramolecular complexes that can be formed by mixing α-, ß-, and γ-cyclodextrin (CD) with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in water at 283, 298, and 323 K was performed by means of computational molecular dynamics simulations. For each CD at the three temperatures, seven different initial conformations were used, generating a total of 63 trajectories. The observed stoichiometries, intermolecular distances, and relative orientation of the individual molecules in the complexes, as well as the most important interactions which contribute to their stability and the role of the solvent water molecules were studied in detail, revealing clear differences and similarities between the three CDs. Earlier reported findings in the inclusion complexes field are also discussed in the context of the present results. For any of the three native cyclodextrins, the CD(2)SDS(1) species in the head-to-head conformation appears to be a promising building block for nanotubular aggregates both in the bulk and at the solution/air interface, as earlier suggested for the case of α-CD. Moreover, the observed noninclusion arrangements involving ß-CD are proposed as the seed for the premicellar (ß-CD)-induced aggregation of SDS described in the literature.

A small molecular size system giving unexpected surface effects: alpha-Cyclodextrin + sodium dodecyl sulfate in water.

Maximum drop volumes (MDV) and the resultant surface tension values (sigma) of alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) + sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) aqueous mixtures have been determined over a broad concentration range of both solutes at 283.15, 293.15, 303.15, 313.15, and 323.15 K. Drops significantly larger than those of pure water (up to approximately 25% larger) were observed at low temperatures for solutions with [alpha-CD]/[SDS] concentration ratios, approximately > 2, producing unexpectedly high surface tension values. Our results indicate that at certain solute concentration ratios and temperatures, the drop volume method provides wrong values for equilibrium surface tensions. This is due to the high viscoelasticity of the surface film whose effect is important even though the injection rate of the drops was slow and the solutes molecular sizes are small.

Heat capacity contributions to the formation of inclusion complexes.

An analysis scheme for the formation of the inclusion complexes in water is presented. It is exemplified for the case where the host is alpha-cyclodextrin and the guest is a linear alcohol (1-propanol to 1-octanol) or the isomers of 1-pentanol. Eight transfer isobaric heat capacities, DeltatCp, involving different initial and final states are evaluated at infinite dilution of the guest using both data determined in this work and from the literature. Apart from the usual definition for the inclusion heat capacity change, three inclusion transfers are used. The sign of each DeltatCp indicates if the transfer is an order-formation or an order-destruction process. From the DeltatCp data, the main contributions to the heat capacity of cyclodextrin complexation, namely, those due to dehydration of the hydrophobic section of the guest molecule, H-bond formation, formation of hydrophobic interactions, and release of water molecules from the cyclodextrin cavity, are estimated. The relative weight of each of these contributions to the DeltatCp values is discussed, providing a better characterization of the molecular recognition process involved in the inclusion phenomena.

On the characterization of host-guest complexes: surface tension, calorimetry, and molecular dynamics of cyclodextrins with a non-ionic surfactant.

Three host-guest systems have been characterized using surface tension (sigma), calorimetry, and molecular dynamics simulations (MD). The hosts were three native cyclodextrins (CD) and the guest the non-ionic carbohydrate surfactant octyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside. It is shown that, for any host-guest system, a rough screening of the most probable complex stoichiometries can be obtained in a model free form, using only calorimetric data. The sigma data were analyzed using a model that includes a newly proposed adsorption isotherm. The equilibrium constants for several stoichiometries were simultaneously obtained through fitting the sigma data. For alpha- and beta-CD, the predominant species is 1:1 and to a lesser extent 2:1, disregarding the existence of the 1:2. For gamma-CD, the 1:2 species dominates, the other two being also present. In an attempt to confirm these results, 10 ns MD simulations for each CD were performed using seven different starting conformations. The MD stable conformations agree with the results found from the experimental data. In one case, the spontaneous dissociation-formation of a complex was observed. Analysis of the trajectories indicates that hydrophobic interactions are primarily responsible for the formation and stability of the inclusion complexes. For the 2:1 species, intermolecular H-bonds between CD molecules result in a tight packed structure where their original truncated cone shape is lost in favor of a cylindrical geometry. Together, the results clearly demonstrate that the often used assumption of considering only a 1:1 species is inappropriate.