Abstract Fully homogeneous facial amphiphiles consisting in a cyclodextrin (CD) platform onto which a polycationic cluster and a multi-tail hydrophobic moiety have been installed (polycationic ...amphiphilic CDs; paCDs) self-organized in the presence of plasmid DNA to form nanometric complexes (CDplexes) which exhibit broad-range transfection capabilities. We hypothesized that biorecognizable moieties located at the hydrophilic rim in the CD scaffold would be exposed at the surface of the corresponding nanoparticles after DNA-promoted aggregation, endowing the system with molecular recognition abilities towards cell receptors. This concept has been demonstrated by developing an efficient synthetic strategy for the preparation of multivalent polycationic glyco-amphiphilic CDs (pGaCDs). Self-assembled nanoparticles obtained from mannosylated pGaCDs and pDNA (average hydrodynamic diameter 80 nm) have been shown to be specifically recognized by mannose-specific lectins, including concanavalin A (Con A) and the human macrophage mannose receptor (MMR). Further macrophage adhesion studies indicated that unspecific binding, probably due to electrostatic interactions with negatively charged cell membrane components, can also operate. The relative specific versus non-specific internalization is dependent on the pGaCD:pDNA proportion, being optimal at a protonable nitrogen/phosphate (N/P) ratio of 5. The resulting GlycoCDplexes were shown to specifically mediate transfection in Raw 264.7 (murine macrophage) cells expressing the mannose-fucose receptor in vitro. FACS experiments confirmed that transfection using these nanoparticles is mannose-dependent, supporting the potential of the approach towards vectorized gene delivery.
Dendritic β-cyclodextrin (βCD) derivatives bearing multivalent mannosyl ligands have been prepared and assessed for their binding efficiency toward the tetrameric plant lectin concanavalin A (Con A) ...and a mammalian mannose/fucose specific cell surface receptor from macrophages. The synthetic strategy exploits the reactivity between isothiocyanate and amine functionalities for the high-yielding assembly via thioureido links of the various building blocks, including host, spacer, branching, and carbohydrate ligand elements. The methodology has been applied to the preparation of a series of βCD-polymannoside scaffolds differing in the ligand valency and geometry. This series allowed us to explore: (i) The effects of the glycodendritic architecture on the binding efficiency; (ii) the mutual influence between the cyclodextrin core and the glycodendritic moieties on the molecular inclusion and lectin-binding properties; and (iii) the consequence of inclusion complex formation, using the anticancer drug docetaxel (Taxotère) as a target guest, on biological recognition. Our results confirm the high drug solubilization capability of this new type of βCD−dendrimer construct and indicate that subtle changes in the architecture of the conjugate may have important consequences on receptor affinity. Interestingly, the host−guest interaction can be monitored to build up supramolecular dynamic glycoclusters with increased lectin affinity. Alternatively, the information obtained from the structure−lectin-binding avidity−inclusion capability studies has been put forward in the design of very efficient molecular transporters for docetaxel based on glycodendritic CD dimers.
A molecular‐diversity‐oriented approach for the preparation of well‐defined polycationic amphiphilic cyclodextrins (paCDs) as gene‐delivery systems is reported. The synthetic strategy takes advantage ...of the differential reactivity of primary versus secondary hydroxyl groups on the CD torus to regioselectively decorate each rim with cationic elements and lipophilic tails, respectively. Both the charge density and the hydrophobic–hydrophilic balance can be finely tuned in a highly symmetrical architecture that is reminiscent of both cationic lipids and cationic polymers, the two most prominent types of nonviral gene vectors. The monodisperse nature of paCDs and the modularity of the synthetic scheme are particularly well suited for structure–activity relationship studies. Gel electrophoresis revealed that paCDs self‐assemble in the presence of plasmid DNA (pDNA) to provide homogeneous, stable nanoparticles (CDplexes) of 70–150 nm that fully protect pDNA from the environment. The transfection efficiency of the resulting CDplexes has been investigated in vitro on BNL‐CL2 and COS‐7 cell lines in the absence and presence of serum and found to be intimately dependent on architectural features. Facial amphiphilicity and the presence of a cluster of cationic and hydrogen‐bonding centers for cooperative and reversible complexation of the polyanionic DNA chain is crucial to attain high transgene expression levels with very low toxicity profiles. Further enhancement of gene expression, eventually overcoming that of polyplexes from commercial polyethyleneimine (PEI) polymers (22 kDa), is achieved by building up space‐oriented dendritic polycationic constructs.
DNA delivery: Segregated, space‐oriented polycationic and lipophilic domains have been installed onto a β‐cyclodextrin (βCD) scaffold by using a molecular‐diversity‐oriented strategy. The resulting polycationic amphiphilic CDs (paCDs) efficiently compact and deliver plasmid DNA (pDNA) into cells (see graphic), thus promoting transgene expression, in a topology‐dependent manner.
Interactions between cyclomaltoheptaose (β-cyclodextrin, βCD) and p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (TsCl) were investigated using MD simulations, both in vacuum, approximating the hydrophobic environment ...of the CD cavity, and with water as a solvent. In both cases, the minimum energy adiabatic paths, and the mean force potentials (MFP) for the insertion of TsCl along a reaction coordinate perpendicular to the CD plane, were calculated for the two possible orientations of TsCl. The results show a preferred entry of TsCl in the CD cavity with the sulfonyl chloride group pointing to the primary hydroxyls rim. In each orientation, two energy minima for the complex are detected in vacuum that reflect the H–H contacts between host and guest observed by NMR spectroscopy (ROESY, NOESY). These separate minima collapsed into a single broader minimum, when the solvent was introduced in the simulations. The resulting association constant between TsCl and βCD (K a ≈ 100 M–1) is in good agreement with the NMR results (K a = 102 ± 12 M–1) in deuterated water solution at 298 K. Advantage has been taken of the dynamics of the reagent inclusion to set up a one step process involving a transient Cu2+ chelate at the secondary hydroxyls rim position for the electrophilic monoactivation of βCD at the primary hydroxyls rim using water as solvent.
Selective chemical functionalization of cyclodextrins (CDs) is a readily amenable methodology to produce amphiphilic macromolecules endowed with modulable self-organizing capabilities. Herein, the ...synthesis of well-defined amphiphilic CD derivatives, with a "skirt-type" architecture, that incorporate long-chain fatty esters at the secondary hydroxyl rim and a variety of chemical functionalities (e. g. iodo, bromo, azido, cysteaminyl or isothiocyanato) at the primary hydroxyls rim is reported. Nanoprecipitation of the new CD facial amphiphiles, or binary mixtures of them, resulted in nanoparticles with average hydrodynamic diameters ranging from 100 to 240 nm that were stable in suspension for several months. The precise size, zeta potential and topology of the nanoparticles are intimately dependent on the functionalization pattern at the CD scaffold. Highly efficient molecular encapsulation capabilities of poorly bioavailable drugs such as diazepam (DZ) were demonstrated for certain derivatives, the drug release profile being dependent on the type of formulation (nanospheres or nanocapsules). The efficiency and versatility of the synthetic strategy, together with the possibility of exploiting the reactivity of the functional groups at the nanoparticle surface, offer excellent opportunities to further manipulate the carrier capabilities of this series of amphiphilic CDs from a bottom-up approach.
Comparison of the lectin-binding properties for highly dense β-cyclodextrin-centered homo- and heteroglycoclusters with defined architecture provides evidence for the existence of strong synergic ...effects (heterocluster effect) on carbohydrate−protein recognition events.
PDF
