Sulfonato-β-Cyclodextrin Mediated Supramolecular Nanoparticle for Controlled Release of Berberine

The delivery carriers and applications for Xiaobojian

Berberine, also known as Xiaobojian (XBJ), is a quaternary ammonium alkaloid isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Coptis chinensis, and is the main effective ingredient for antibacterial purpose. This work systematically reviewed recent researches on XBJ in the whole range of delivery technologies. Compared with XBJ monomer administration, other forms of drug administration, such as tablets, pellets, XBJ polymer delivery system, lipid delivery system, superdeformed vesicles nanocrystallization or emulsification of XBJ and some special substances, will increase the absorption of XBJ. XBJ can be administered through various carriers, including oral administration and topical application. The importance of XBJ carrier administration is mainly reflected in wide application prospects, various pharmacological effects, and improving drug efficacy.

The role of macrocycles in supramolecular assembly with polymers

Recently, supramolecular self-assembly has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide because it enables the creation of nanostructures with unique properties without additional costs. Spontaneous organization of molecules allows the design and development of new nanostructures that can interact with drugs and living cells and generate a response. Therefore, supramolecular structures have enormous potential and can be in demand in various fields of healthcare and ecology. One of the widely used building blocks of such supramolecular assemblies is polymers. This review examines the joint aggregation behavior of various macrocycles (cyclodextrins, calixarenes, cucurbiturils, porphyrins, and pillararenes) with polymers, the functional properties of these supramolecular systems and their potential applications.

The Commonly Used Stabilizers for Phytochemical-Based Nanoparticles: Stabilization Effects, Mechanisms, and Applications

Phytochemicals, such as resveratrol, curcumin, and quercetin, have many benefits for health, but most of them have a low bioavailability due to their poor water solubility and stability, quick metabolism, and clearance, which restricts the scope of their potential applications. To overcome these issues, different types of nanoparticles (NPs), especially biocompatible and biodegradable NPs, have been developed. NPs can carry phytochemicals and increase their solubility, stability, target specificity, and oral bioavailability. However, NPs are prone to irreversible aggregation, which leads to NP instability and loss of functions. To remedy this shortcoming, stabilizers like polymers and surfactants are incorporated on NPs. Stabilizers not only increase the stability of NPs, but also improve their characteristics. The current review focused on discussing the state of the art in research on synthesizing phytochemical-based NPs and their commonly employed stabilizers. Furthermore, stabilizers in these NPs were also discussed in terms of their applications, effects, and underlying mechanisms. This review aimed to provide more references for developing stabilizers and NPs for future research.

Prospects of Using Chitosan-Based Biopolymers in the Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Injuries

Peripheral nerve injuries are common neurological disorders, and the available treatment options, such as conservative management and surgical repair, often yield limited results. However, there is growing interest in the potential of using chitosan-based biopolymers as a novel therapeutic approach to treating these injuries. Chitosan-based biopolymers possess unique characteristics, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and the ability to stimulate cell proliferation, making them highly suitable for repairing nerve defects and promoting nerve regeneration and functional recovery. Furthermore, these biopolymers can be utilized in drug delivery systems to control the release of therapeutic agents and facilitate the growth of nerve cells. This comprehensive review focuses on the latest advancements in utilizing chitosan-based biopolymers for peripheral nerve regeneration. By harnessing the potential of chitosan-based biopolymers, we can pave the way for innovative treatment strategies that significantly improve the outcomes of peripheral nerve injury repair, offering renewed hope and better prospects for patients in need.

Supramolecular nanomedicines based on host-guest interactions of cyclodextrins

In the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields, cyclodextrin (CD) is undoubtedly one of the most frequently used macrocyclic compounds as the host molecule because it has good biocompatibility and can increase the solubility, bioavailability, and stability of hydrophobic drug guests. In this review, we generalized the unique properties of CDs, CD-related supramolecular nanocarriers, supramolecular controlled release systems, and targeting systems based on CDs, and introduced the paradigms of these nanomedicines. In addition, we also discussed the prospects and challenges of CD-based supramolecular nanomedicines to facilitate the development and clinical translation of these nanomedicines.

Evaluation on the inclusion behavior of β-cyclodextrins with lycorine and its hydrochloride

Lycorine (Lyc) and its hydrochloride (Lyc∙HCl) as effective drugs can fight against many diseases including novel coronavirus (COVID-19) based on their antiviral and antitumor mechanism. Beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) is considered a promising carrier in improving its efficacy while minimizing cytotoxicity due to the good spatial compatibility with Lyc. However, the detailed mechanism of inclusion interaction still remains to be further evaluated. In this paper, six inclusion complexes based on β-CDs, Lyc and Lyc∙HCl were processed through ultrasound in the mixed solvent of ethanol and water, and their inclusion behavior was characterized after lyophilization. It was found that the inclusion complexes based on sulfobutyl-beta-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) and Lyc∙HCl had the best encapsulation effect among prepared inclusion complexes, which may be attributed to the electrostatic interaction between sulfonic group of SBE-β-CD and quaternary amino group of Lyc∙HCl. Moreover, the complexes based on SBE-β-CD displayed pH-sensitive drug release property, good solubilization, stability and blood compatibility, indicating their potential as suitable drug carriers for Lyc and Lyc∙HCl.

Fullerene-polysaccharide supramolecular hydrogel displaying antioxidation/antiglycation behavior

A fullerene-polysaccharide supramolecular hydrogel was constructed by carrying out a co-assembly of fullerene@hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, chitosan and bentonite, and displayed good antioxidant and antiglycation properties, and hence showed promising cosmetics applications. Benefitting from the cyclodextrin hydrophobic cavity, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin formed a stoichiometric 2 : 1 complex with fullerene, effectively enhancing the water solubility and biological activity of fullerene, and the encapsulation ratio of the prepared fullerene was calculated to be 79%. Results of oxygen radical absorbance capacity and pyrogallol autoxidation experiments showed high antioxidant activity displayed by the fullerene@HP-β-CD inclusion complex. The supramolecular inclusion was further co-assembled, using multiple hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions, with chitosan and bentonite to form a supramolecular hydrogel; this hydrogel was successfully used in antiglycation, with a glycation end products inhibition rate of 43.99% at a 10% sample concentration. Therefore, the fullerene-polysaccharide ternary co-assembly supramolecular hydrogel showed good antioxidant and antiglycation abilities, and the construction of the polysaccharide supramolecular hydrogel provided a new perspective for raw materials to consider in cosmetics applications.

Approaching strategy to increase the oral bioavailability of berberine, a quaternary ammonium isoquinoline alkaloid: Part 2. Development of oral dosage formulations

INTRODUCTION

Berberine (BBR) possesses a wide variety of pharmacological activities. However, the oral bioavailability of BBR is low due to extensive intestinal first-pass metabolism by cytochrome P450s (CYPs), insufficient absorption due to low solubility and P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated efflux transport, and hepatic first-pass metabolism in rats.

AREAS COVERED

Various dosage formulations were developed to increase the oral bioavailability of BBR by overcoming the reducing factors. This article provides the developing strategy of oral dosage formulations of BBR based on the physicochemical (low solubility, formation of salts/ion-pair complex) and pharmacokinetic properties (substrate of P-gp/CYPs, extensive intestinal first-pass metabolism). Literature was searched by using PubMed.

EXPERT OPINION

Here, formulations increasing the dissolution rates/solubility; formulations containing a P-gp inhibitor; formulations containing solubilizer exhibiting P-gp and/or CYPs inhibitors; formulations containing absorption enhancers; gastro/duodenal retentive formulations; lipid-based formulations; formulations targeting lymphatic transport; and physicochemical modifications increasing lipophilicity were reviewed. Among these formulations, formulations that can reduce intestinal first-pass metabolisms such as formulations containing CYPs inhibitor(s) and formulations containing absorption enhancer(s) significantly increased the oral bioavailability of BBR. Further studies on other dosing routes that can avoid first-pass metabolism such as the rectal route would also be important to increase the bioavailability of BBR.

Unimolecular Micelles from Randomly Grafted Arborescent Copolymers with Different Core Branching Densities: Encapsulation of Doxorubicin and In Vitro Release Study

A series of amphiphilic arborescent copolymers of generations G1 and G2 with an arborescent poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate) (PBG) core and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chain segments in the shell, PBG-g-PEO, were synthesized and evaluated as drug delivery nanocarriers. The PBG building blocks were generated by ring-opening polymerization of γ-benzyl L-glutamic acid N-carboxyanhydride (Glu-NCA) initiated with n-hexylamine. Partial or full deprotection of the benzyl ester groups followed by coupling with PBG chains yielded a comb-branched (arborescent polymer generation zero or G0) PBG structure. Additional cycles of deprotection and grafting provided G1 and G2 arborescent polypeptides. Side chains of poly(ethylene oxide) were then randomly grafted onto the arborescent PBG substrates to produce amphiphilic arborescent copolymers. Control over the branching density of G0PBG was investigated by varying the length and the deprotection level of the linear PBG substrates used in their synthesis. Three G0PBG cores with different branching densities, varying from a compact and dense to a loose and more porous structure, were thus synthesized. These amphiphilic copolymers behaved similar to unimolecular micelles in aqueous solutions, with a unimodal number- and volume-weighted size distributions in dynamic light scattering measurements. It was demonstrated that these biocompatible copolymers can encapsulate hydrophobic drugs such as doxorubicin (DOX) within their hydrophobic core with drug loading efficiencies of 42-65%. Sustained and pH-responsive DOX release was observed from the unimolecular micelles, which suggests that they could be useful as drug nanocarriers for cancer therapy.

Preparation and characterization of curcumin/chitosan conjugate as an efficient photodynamic antibacterial agent

Curcumin (Cur) is a natural pigment with excellent biological activity. The poor stability and insolubility of Cur in water severely limit its application. Therefore, to overcome these dilemmas which are big hindrances in their application, a novel derivative (COCS-Cur) was prepared by the esterification reaction of carboxylated chitosan (COCS) and Cur. The structure and properties of conjugate were determined through a series of characterizations. The derivatives had excellent solubility as well as stability. In addition, antioxidant and photodynamic antibacterial experiments proved that COCS-Cur had the excellent free radical scavenging ability and photodynamic antibacterial activity. The derivatives presented a better antibacterial effect on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) than Escherichia coli (E. coli). Noteworthy, the COCS-Cur derivatives showed no obvious toxicity which makes them a stronger contender and potential antimicrobial agent or functional nutrient for application in the food industry.

Combination of Cellulose Derivatives and Chitosan-Based Polymers to Investigate the Effect of Permeation Enhancers Added to In Situ Nasal Gels for the Controlled Release of Loratadine and Chlorpheniramine

The purpose of the study is to develop and assess mucoadhesive in situ nasal gel formulations of loratadine and chlorpheniramine maleate to advance the bioavailability of the drug as compared to its conventional dosage forms. The influence of various permeation enhancers, such as EDTA (0.2% w/v), sodium taurocholate (0.5% w/v), oleic acid (5% w/v), and Pluronic F 127 (10% w/v), on the nasal absorption of loratadine and chlorpheniramine from in situ nasal gels containing different polymeric combinations, such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Carbopol 934, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and chitosan, is studied. Among these permeation enhancers, sodium taurocholate, Pluronic F127 and oleic acid produced a noticeable increase in the loratadine in situ nasal gel flux compared with in situ nasal gels without permeation enhancer. However, EDTA increased the flux slightly, and in most cases, the increase was insignificant. However, in the case of chlorpheniramine maleate in situ nasal gels, the permeation enhancer oleic acid only showed a noticeable increase in flux. Sodium taurocholate and oleic acid seems to be a better and efficient enhancer, enhancing the flux > 5-fold compared with in situ nasal gels without permeation enhancer in loratadine in situ nasal gels. Pluronic F127 also showed a better permeation, increasing the effect by >2-fold in loratadine in situ nasal gels. In chlorpheniramine maleate in situ nasal gels with EDTA, sodium taurocholate and Pluronic F127 were equally effective, enhancing chlorpheniramine maleate permeation. Oleic acid has a better effect as permeation enhancer in chlorpheniramine maleate in situ nasal gels and showed a maximum permeation enhancement of >2-fold.

Preparation and Properties of Photoresponsive Pendimethalin@Silica-cinnamamide/γ-CD Microspheres for Pesticide Controlled Release

Photocontrolled pesticide delivery systems have broad prospects for application in agriculture. Here, a novel photoresponsive herbicide delivery system was fabricated by functionalizing silica microsphere surfaces with cinnamamide and encapsulating the silica-cinnamamide with γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) to form a double-layered microsphere shell loaded with pendimethalin (pendimethalin@silica-cinnamamide/γ-CD). The microspheres showed remarkable loading capacity for pendimethalin (approximately 30.25% w/w) and displayed excellent photoresponsiveness and controlled release. The cumulative drug release rate exceeded 80% over 72 h under UV or sunlight irradiation. The herbicidal activity of the microspheres against Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv. was almost the same as that of pendimethalin under UV or sunlight. A bioactivity survey confirmed that the pendimethalin@silica-cinnamamide/γ-CD microspheres exhibited longer duration weed control than commercial pendimethalin. Allium cepa chromosomal aberration assays demonstrated that the microspheres showed lower genotoxicity than pendimethalin. These advantages indicate that pendimethalin@silica-cinnamamide/γ-CD microspheres constitute an environmentally friendly herbicidal formulation.

pH-Responsive fluorescent supramolecular nanoparticles based on tetraphenylethylene-labelled chitosan and a six-fold carboxylated tribenzotriquinacene

We synthesized a new tetraphenylethylene-modified chitosan bioconjugate, CS-TPE, that shows the aggregation-induced emission effect. It can self-assemble into fluorescent polymeric nanoparticles in an aqueous solution at pH 5.3 either alone or with the water-soluble bowl-shaped six-fold carboxylated tribenzotriquinacene derivative TBTQ-C₆ via host-guest binding. The spherical nanoparticles formed by CS-TPE amphiphiles or TBTQ-C₆/CS-TPE supra-amphiphiles disintegrated under alkaline stimulation at pH 10.4 and the dispersion of the aggregates after the collapse in the presence of TBTQ-C₆ was greatly improved. In addition, the fluorescence of CS-TPE was significantly enhanced by introducing TBTQ-C₆, and remained relatively stable with variations in pH for both CS-TPE and TBTQ-C₆/CS-TPE. Such pH-responsive supramolecular spherical nanoparticles with stable fluorescence emission based on CS-TPE or TBTQ-C₆/CS-TPE may find applications in various fields, including the development of visual oral drug delivery systems.

The therapeutic potential of berberine chloride against SARM1-dependent axon degeneration in acrylamide-induced neuropathy

Chronic acrylamide (ACR) intoxication causes typical pathology of axon degeneration. Moreover, sterile-α and toll/interleukin 1 receptor motif-containing protein 1 (SARM1), the central executioner of the programmed axonal destruction process under various insults, is up-regulated in ACR neuropathy. However, it remains unclear whether inhibitors targeting SARM1 are effective or not. Among all the pharmacological antagonists, berberine chloride (BBE), a natural phytochemical and the first identified non-competitive inhibitor of SARM1, attracts tremendous attention. Here, we observed the protection of 100 μM BBE against ACR-induced neurites injury (2 mM ACR, 24 hr) in vitro, and further evaluated the neuroprotective effect of BBE (100 mg/kg p.o. three times a week for 4 weeks) in ACR-intoxicated rats (40 mg/kg i.p. three times a week for 4 weeks). The expression of SARM1 was also detected. BBE intervention significantly inhibited the overexpression of SARM1, ameliorated axonal degeneration, alleviated pathological changes in the sciatic nerve and spinal cord, and improved neurobehavioral symptoms in ACR-poisoned rats. Thus, BBE exhibits a strong neuroprotective effect against the SARM1-dependent axon destruction in ACR neuropathy. Meanwhile, our study underscores the need for appropriate inhibitor selection in diverse situations that would benefit from blocking the SARM1-dependent axonal destruction pathway.

Glucose-Activated Nanoconfinement Supramolecular Cascade Reaction in Situ for Diabetic Wound Healing

Supramolecular nanofunctional materials have attracted increasing attention from scientific researchers due to their advantages in biomedicine. Herein, we construct a nanosupramolecular cascade reactor through the cooperative interaction of multiple noncovalent bonds, which include chitosan, sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin, ferrous ions, and glucose oxidase. Under the activation of glucose, hydroxyl radicals generated from the nanoconfinement supramolecular cascade reaction process are able to initiate the radical polymerization process of vinyl monomers to form hydrogel network structures while inhibiting resistant bacterial infection. The results of the diabetic wound experiment confirmed the capacity of the glucose-activated nanoconfinement supramolecular cascade reaction in situ for potent antimicrobial efficacy and wound protection. This strategy of "two birds with one stone" provides a convenient method for the application of supramolecular nanomaterial in the field of biomedicine.

Development of Cyclodextrin-Functionalized Transethoniosomes of 6-Gingerol: Statistical Optimization, In Vitro Characterization and Assessment of Cytotoxic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects

The poor solubility and stability of 6-gingerol (6-G) could hamper its clinical applications. The aim of the current study was to develop a novel ultra-deformable cyclodextrin-functionalized transethoniosomes (CD-TENs) as a promising delivery system for 6-G. Transethoniosomes (TENs) are flexible niosomes (NVs) due to their content of ethanol and edge activators (EAs). CD-functionalized nanoparticles could improve drug solubility and stability compared to the corresponding nanovesicles. 6-G-loaded ethoniosomes (ENs) were formulated by the ethanol injection technique in the presence and absence of EA and CD to explore the impact of the studied independent variables on entrapment efficiency (EE%) and % 6-G released after 24 h (Q_24h). According to the desirability criteria, F8 (CD-functionalized transethoniosomal formula) was selected as the optimized formulation. F8 demonstrated higher EE%, permeation, deformability and stability than the corresponding TENs, ENs and NVs. Additionally, F8 showed higher cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activity than pure 6-G. The synergism between complexation with CD and novel ultra-deformable nanovesicles (TENs) in the form of CD-TENs can be a promising drug delivery carrier for 6-G.

A heat-controlled release system of ethyl vanillin based on acyclic cucurbit[n]urils

Ethyl vanillin (EVA) is one of the most popular spices in the world, but it is unstable and is prone to lose its aroma. Host–Guest encapsulation by supramolecular hosts can improve stability of fragrance molecules and endow them with excellent heat-controlled release properties to satisfy requirements in food, cosmetic and tobacco, etc. Herein, two acyclic cucurbit[n]urils (ACBs, M1 and M2) inclusion complexes of EVA were prepared. Their binding behaviors were investigated by 1H NMR, SEM, XRD, FT-IR and TGA. The stoichiometric ratio was 1:1 by Job’s plot and the binding constant was determined by fluorescence titration. The intermolecular interaction between host and guest was studied by 2D-ROESY NMR and the inclusion mode was proposed. Finally, the heat-controlled release experiment indicated that the inclusion complexes of ACBs/EVA possess less volatilization at higher temperature, longer retention time and heat-controlled release. This study provides theoretical and technical guidance for expanding the application of EVA.

Multicharged cyclodextrin supramolecular assemblies

Multicharged cyclodextrin (CD) supramolecular assemblies, including those based on positively/negatively charged modified mono-6-deoxy-CDs, per-6-deoxy-CDs, and random 2,3,6-deoxy-CDs, as well as parent CDs binding positively/negatively charged guests, have been extensively applied in chemistry, materials science, medicine, biological science, catalysis, and other fields. In this review, we primarily focus on summarizing the recent advances in positively/negatively charged CDs and parent CDs encapsulating positively/negatively charged guests, especially the construction process of supramolecular assemblies and their applications. Compared with uncharged CDs, multicharged CDs display remarkably high antiviral and antibacterial activity as well as efficient protein fibrosis inhibition. Meanwhile, charged CDs can interact with oppositely charged dyes, drugs, polymers, and biomacromolecules to achieve effective encapsulation and aggregation. Consequently, multicharged CD supramolecular assemblies show great advantages in improving drug-delivery efficiency, the luminescence properties of materials, molecular recognition and imaging, and the toughness of supramolecular hydrogels, in addition to enabling the construction of multistimuli-responsive assemblies. These features are anticipated to not only promote the development of CD-based supramolecular chemistry but also contribute to the rapid exploitation of these assemblies in diverse interdisciplinary applications.

Synchronous Imaging in Golgi Apparatus and Lysosome Enabled by Amphiphilic Calixarene-Based Artificial Light-Harvesting Systems

Artificial supramolecular light-harvesting systems have expanded various properties on photoluminescence, enabling promising applications on cell imaging, especially for imaging in organelles. Supramolecular light-harvesting systems have been used for imaging in some organelles such as lysosome, Golgi apparatus, and mitochondrion, but developing a supramolecular light-harvesting platform for imaging two organelles synchronously still remains a great challenge. Here, we report a series of lower-rim dodecyl-modified sulfonato-calix[4]arene-mediated supramolecular light-harvesting platforms for efficient light-harvesting from three naphthalene diphenylvinylpyridiniums containing acceptors, Nile Red, and Nile Blue. All of the constructed supramolecular light-harvesting systems possess high light-harvesting efficiency. Furthermore, when the two acceptors are loaded simultaneously in a single light-harvesting donor system for imaging in human prostate cancer cells, organelle imaging in lysosome and Golgi apparatus can be realized at the same time with distinctive wavelength emission. Nile Red receives the light-harvesting energy from the donors, reaching orange emissions (625 nm) in lysosome while Nile Blue shows a near-infrared light-harvesting emission at 675 nm in Golgi apparatus in the same cells. Thus, the light harvesting system provides a pathway for synchronously efficient cell imaging in two distinct organelles with a single type of photoluminescent supramolecular nanoparticles.

A review of the berberine natural polysaccharide nanostructures as potential anticancer and antibacterial agents

Despite the promising medicinal properties, berberine (BBR), due to its relatively poor solubility in plasma, low bio-stability and limited bioavailability is not used broadly in clinical stages. Due to these drawbacks, drug delivery systems (DDSs) based on nanoscale natural polysaccharides, are applied to address these concerns. Natural polymers are biodegradable, non-immunogenic, biocompatible, and non-toxic agents that are capable of trapping large amounts of hydrophobic compounds in relatively small volumes. The use of nanoscale natural polysaccharide improves the stability and pharmacokinetics of the small molecules and, consequently, increases the therapeutic effects and reduces the side effects of the small molecules. Therefore, this paper presents an overview of the different methods used for increasing the BBR solubility and bioavailability. Afterwards, the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic of BBR nanostructures were discussed followed by the introduction of natural polysaccharides of plant (cyclodextrines, glucomannan), the shells of crustaceans (chitosan), and the cell wall of brown marine algae (alginate)-based origins used to improve the dissolution rate of poorly soluble BBR and their anticancer and antibacterial properties. Finally, the anticancer and antibacterial mechanisms of free BBR and BBR nanostructures were surveyed. In conclusion, this review may pave the way for providing some useful data in the development of BBR-based platforms for clinical applications.

Berberine-Albumin Nanoparticles: Preparation, Thermodynamic Study and Evaluation Their Protective Effects Against Oxidative Stress in Primary Neuronal Cells as a Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Berberine has shown an outstanding antioxidant activity, however the low bioavailability limits its applications in pharmaceutical platforms. Therefore, in this paper, after fabrication of the berberine-HSA nanoparticles by desolvation method, they were well characterized by TEM, SEM, DLS, and FTIR techniques. Afterwards the interaction of HSA and the berberine was evaluated by molecular docking analysis. Finally, the antioxidant activity of the berberine-HSA nanoparticles against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in cultured neurons as a model of AD was evaluated by cellular assays. The results showed that the prepared berberine-HSA nanoparticles have a spherical-shaped morphology with a size of around 100 nm and zeta potential value of -31.84 mV. The solubility value of nanoparticles was calculated to be 40.27%, with a berberine loading of 19.37%, berberine entrapment efficiency of 70.34%, and nanoparticles yield of 88.91%. Also, it was shown that the berberine is not significantly released from HSA nanoparticles within 24 hours. Afterwards, molecular docking investigation revealed that berberine spontaneously interacts with HSA through electrostatic interaction. Finally, cellular assays disclosed that the pretreatment of neuronal cultures with berberine-HSA nanoparticles decreased the H₂O₂-stimulated cytotoxicity and relevant morphological changes and enhanced the CAT activity. In conclusion, it can be indicated that the nanoformulation of the berberine can be used as a promising platform for inhibition of oxidative damage-induced Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Curcumin Encapsulated in Crosslinked Cyclodextrin Nanoparticles Enables Immediate Inhibition of Cell Growth and Efficient Killing of Cancer Cells

The efficiency of anti-cancer drugs is commonly determined by endpoint assays after extended incubation times, often after days. Here we demonstrate that curcumin encapsulated in crosslinked cyclodextrin nanoparticles (CD-NP) acts extremely rapidly on cell metabolism resulting in an immediate and complete inhibition of cell growth and in efficient cancer-cell killing only few hours after incubation. This early onset of anti-cancer action was discovered by live-cell high-throughput fluorescence microscopy using an environmental stage. To date, only very few examples of covalently crosslinked nanoscale CD-based (CD-NP) drug carriers exist. Crosslinking cyclodextrins enables the adsorption of unusually high payloads of hydrophobic curcumin (762 µg CC/mg CD-NP) reflecting a molar ratio of 2.3:1 curcumin to cyclodextrin. We have investigated the effect of CD-NP encapsulated curcumin (CD-CC-NP) in comparison to free, DMSO-derived curcumin nanoparticles (CC-NP) on 4 different cell lines. Very short incubations times as low as 1 h were applied and cell responses after medium change were subsequently followed over two days. We show that cell proliferation is inhibited nearly immediately in all cell lines and that a cell- and concentration dependent cancer-cell killing occurs. Anti-cancer effects were similar with free and encapsulated curcumin, however, encapsulation in CD-NP drastically extends the long-term photostability and anti-cancer activity of curcumin. Curcumin-sensitivity is highest in HeLa cells reaching up to 90% cell death under these conditions. Sensitivity decreased from HeLa to T24 to MDA MB-231 cells. Strikingly, the immortalized non-cancerous cell line MCF-10A was robust against curcumin concentrations that were highly toxic to the other cell lines. Our results underline the potential of curcumin as gentle and yet effective natural anti-cancer agent when delivered solvent-free in stabilizing and biocompatible drug carriers such as CD-NP that enable efficient cellular delivery.

Acid-Activated Motion Switching of DB24C8 between Two Discrete Platinum(II) Metallacycles

The precise operation of molecular motion for constructing complicated mechanically interlocked molecules has received considerable attention and is still an energetic field of supramolecular chemistry. Herein, we reported the construction of two tris[2]pseudorotaxanes metallacycles with acid-base controllable molecular motion through self-sorting strategy and host-guest interaction. Firstly, two hexagonal Pt(II) metallacycles M1 and M2 decorated with different host-guest recognition sites have been constructed via coordination-driven self-assembly strategy. The binding of metallacycles M1 and M2 with dibenzo-24-crown-8 (DB24C8) to form tris[2]pseudorotaxanes complexes TPRM1 and TPRM2 have been investigated. Furthermore, by taking advantage of the strong binding affinity between the protonated metallacycle M2 and DB24C8, the addition of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as a stimulus successfully induces an acid-activated motion switching of DB24C8 between the discrete metallacycles M1 and M2. This research not only affords a highly efficient way to construct stimuli-responsive smart supramolecular systems but also offers prospects for precisely control multicomponent cooperative motion.

Investigating the In Vitro Osteogenic Properties of the Inclusion Nanocarrier of Icariin with Beta-Cyclodextrin-Alginate

In this study, we created an inclusion nanocarrier of icariin (ICA) and β-cyclodextrin-alginate conjugate (ICA/β-CD-ALG) and determined its in vitro osteogenic ability on MC3T3-E1 cells. The morphological shape of the prepared β-CD-ALG with or without ICA was nano-sized and round. The use of β-CD-ALG achieved a sustained ICA release for up to 7 days. In vitro studies found that ICA/β-CD-ALG had a greater potential in osteogenesis on MC3T3-E1 cells compared to β-CD-ALG by exhibiting both higher alkaline phosphatase levels and the amount of calcium deposits. Moreover, ICA/β-CD-ALG greatly increased the levels of osteogenesis markers including osteocalcin (OCN) and osteopontin (OPN). Our results suggest that ICA/β-CD-ALG plays a significant role in cellular osteogenic activity.

Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Two-Step Responsive Release of Antitumor Drug

A novel two-step in situ method for targeted antitumor drug release by supramolecular assembly (Fc-CPT@HACD) was constructed using camptothecin prodrug (Fc-CPT) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-modified hyaluronic acid (HACD). Benefiting from the overexpressed H₂O₂ and glutathione (GSH) in tumor cells, Fc-CPT@HACD can be disassembled by oxidation of ferrocene (Fc) to Fc⁺, leading to an efficient release of the anticancer drug camptothecin (CPT) to induce tumor cell apoptosis without affecting normal cells. The in vivo experiment results also demonstrated that Fc-CPT@HACD possessed higher anticancer efficiency than free CPT, accompanied by negligible side effects.

Cyclodextrin Based Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery and Theranostics

Colloidal nanoparticulate technology has been described in the literature as a versatile drug delivery system. But it possesses some inherent lacunae in their formulation. Cyclodextrins (CDs) have been extensively reported for the solubility enhancement of poorly water-soluble drugs. The CDs can cause intervention in aspects related to nanoparticles (NPs) that include improving drug loading in nano-system, improving stability, site-specific/targeted drug delivery, improving solubility profile and absorption of the drug in nanosystem with consequent improvement in bioavailability, with the possibility of controlled release, safety and efficacy. They find application in for simultaneous diagnosis and therapeutics for better treatment procedures. The current communication is focused on the application of CDs to overcome troubles in nanoparticulate formulation and enhancement of their performance. It also envisages the theranostic aspects of CDs.

Supramolecular assembly of calix[4]resorcinarenes and chitosan for the design of drug nanocontainers with selective effects on diseased cells

Effective delivery systems for anticancer drugs were prepared through the self-assembly of calix[4]resorcinarenes and chitosan in an aqueous medium.

Multi-charged macrocycles as a platform for rapid and broad spectral photodecomposition of aromatic dyes

Four water-soluble macrocycles were chosen to explore the most efficient photodecomposition behaviours of quaternized 9-alkoxy-substituted anthracene (AnQA).

Cyclodextrin-Based Multistimuli-Responsive Supramolecular Assemblies and Their Biological Functions

Cyclodextrins (CDs), which are a class of cyclic oligosaccharides extracted from the enzymatic degradation of starch, are often utilized in molecular recognition and assembly constructs, primarily via host-guest interactions in water. In this review, recent progress in CD-based supramolecular nanoassemblies that are sensitive to chemical, biological, and physical stimuli is updated and reviewed, and intriguing examples of the biological functions of these nanoassemblies are presented, including pH- and redox-responsive drug and gene delivery, enzyme-activated specific cargo release, photoswitchable morphological interconversion, microtubular aggregation, and cell-cell communication, as well as a geomagnetism-controlled nanosystem for the suppression of tumor invasion and metastasis. Moreover, future perspectives and challenges in the fabrication of intelligent CD-based biofunctional materials are also discussed at the end of this review, which is expected to promote the translational development of these nanomaterials in the biomedical field.

Host-Guest Chemistry in Supramolecular Theranostics

Macrocyclic hosts, such as cyclodextrins, calixarenes, cucurbiturils, and pillararenes, exhibit unparalleled advantages in disease diagnosis and therapy over the past years by fully taking advantage of their host-guest molecular recognitions. The dynamic nature of the non-covalent interactions and selective host-guest complexation endow the resultant nanomaterials with intriguing properties, holding promising potentials in theranostic fields. Interestingly, the differences in microenvironment between the abnormal and normal cells/tissues can be employed as the stimuli to modulate the host-guest interactions, realizing the purpose of precise diagnosis and specific delivery of drugs to lesion sites. In this review, we summarize the progress of supramolecular theranostics on the basis of host-guest chemistry benefiting from their fantastic topological structures and outstanding supramolecular chemistry. These state-of-the-art examples provide new methodologies to overcome the obstacles faced by the traditional theranostic systems, promoting their clinical translations.

Enzyme-responsive sulfatocyclodextrin/prodrug supramolecular assembly for controlled release of anti-cancer drug chlorambucil

A supramolecular assembly constructed using sulfatocyclodextrin and choline modified chlorambucil exhibits excellent enzyme-response activity and controlled drug release.

Controlling interfacial interactions of supramolecular assemblies by light-responsive overcrowded alkenes

A light-responsive supramolecular polymer was constructed by an AB-type monomer containing a light-responsive overcrowded alkene. The primary assemblies of the supramolecular polymer can further undertake secondary self-assembly by interfacial host-guest connections, which can be manipulated by light stimuli to convert into discrete primary assemblies.