Cobalt bis(dicarbollides)(1-) covalently attached to the calyx[4]arene platform: the first combination of organic bowl-shaped matrices and inorganic metallaborane cluster anions
Various calix[4]arene and resorc[4]arene ionic compounds substituted by cobalt bis(dicarbollide) anions (1) have been prepared for the first time. From tBu-calix[4]arene (A) the complete series of mono-, di-, tri- and tetrasubstituted derivatives bearing one to four cluster anions on the lower rim (3-6) have been obtained in the form of their alkali-metal salts by O-alkylation with the 1-dioxane derivative [8-O(CH2CH2)2O(+)-1,2-C2B9H10)-(1',2'-C2B9H11)-3,3'-Co] (2), all of which are syn or cone isomers. In contrast, disubstitution of the dipropyl ether of tBu-calix[4]arene (B) led to a mixture of the cone and 1,3-alternate conformers 7a and 7b, respectively. Starting from tetrapropoxy-calix…
Docetaxel-Loaded Nanoparticles Assembled from β-Cyclodextrin/Calixarene Giant Surfactants: Physicochemical Properties and Cytotoxic Effect in Prostate Cancer and Glioblastoma Cells.
Giant amphiphiles encompassing a hydrophilic β-cyclodextrin (βCD) component and a hydrophobic calix[4]arene (CA4) module undergo self-assembly in aqueous media to afford core-shell nanospheres or nanocapsules, depending on the nanoprecipitation protocol, with high docetaxel (DTX) loading capacity. The blank and loaded nanoparticles have been fully characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), ζ-potential measurements and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The data are compatible with the distribution of the drug between the nanoparticle core and the shell, where it is probably anchored by inclusion of the DTX aromatic moieties in βCD cavities. Indeed, the release kinetics …
Picomolar inhibition of cholera toxin by a pentavalent ganglioside GM1os-calix[5]arene
Cholera toxin (CT), the causative agent of cholera, displays a pentavalent binding domain that targets the oligosaccharide of ganglioside GM1 (GM1os) on the periphery of human abdominal epithelial cells. Here, we report the first GM1os-based CT inhibitor that matches the valency of the CT binding domain (CTB). This pentavalent inhibitor contains five GM1os moieties linked to a calix[5]arene scaffold. When evaluated by an inhibition assay, it achieved a picomolar inhibition potency (IC50 = 450 pM) for CTB. This represents a significant multivalency effect, with a relative inhibitory potency of 100000 compared to a monovalent GM1os derivative, making GM1os-calix[5]arene one of the most potent…
Dendrimer-coated magnetic particles for radionuclide separation
Magnetic particles were synthesised for radionuclide removal from nuclear wastes by magnetic separation. Dendrimers with terminal amino groups attached to the particle surface were used to bind chelating groups for lanthanides and actinides. This led to a 50–400-fold increase of the distribution coefficients for europium and americium in comparison to the reference particles without the dendrimers. Back-extraction studies have demonstrated the possibility of multiple particle recycling.
Low-generation dendrimers with a calixarene core and based on a chiral C2-symmetric pyrrolidine as iminosugar mimics
The preparation of low-generation dendrimers based on a simple calix[4]arene scaffold by insertion of the iminosugar-analogue C2-symmetric 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine is described. This methodology allows a rapid incorporation of a considerable number of iminosugar-like moieties in a reduced volume and in a well-defined geometry. The inclusion of alkali-metal ions (sodium and potassium) in the polar cavity defined by the acetamide moieties at the lower rim of the calixarene was demonstrated, which allows also the rigidification of the dendrimer structure and the iminosugar presentation in the clusters. The combination of the supramolecular properties of calixarenes with the advantage of a dend…
Tetra-CMPO-derivatives of calix[4]arenes fixed in the 1,3-alternate conformation
Calix[4]arene derivatives fixed in the 1,3-alternate conformation and substituted at one side by four carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) residues were synthesised. Two CMPO groups are directly attached to the wide rim, while the second pair is bound to the narrow rim via a tri- or tetramethylene spacer. Similar compounds, in which two CMPO groups at the wide rim are combined with two picolinamide groups or two ionisable carboxylic groups at the narrow rim, were also prepared. Some of these calixarene derivatives were studied as extractants for lanthanides (La3+, Eu3+, Yb3+) and thorium (Th4+) from acidic solution into methylene chloride. For selected samples, stability constants in metha…
CMPO-substituted calix[6]- and calix[8]arene extractants for the separation of An3+/Ln3+ from radioactive waste
Abstract Three calix[6]arene derivatives ( 1a – c ) and two calix[8]arene derivatives ( 2a , b ), with six and eight CMPO residues, respectively, attached to the narrow/lower rim via ether links, were synthesised. Preliminary liquid–liquid extraction studies for Eu(III) and Am(III) from aqueous nitric acid to o -nitrophenylhexyl ether reveal remarkable properties with respect to efficiency and selectivity, especially for the tert -butylcalix[6]arene derivative with a –(CH 2 ) 3 – spacer.
Arginine clustering on calix[4]arene macrocycles for improved cell penetration and DNA delivery
Cell-penetrating peptides are widely used as molecular transporters for the internalization inside cells of various cargo, including proteins and nucleic acids. A special role is played by arginine-rich peptides and oligoarginines covalently linked or simply mixed with the cargo. Here we report cell-penetrating agents in which arginine units are clustered on a macrocyclic scaffold. Instead of using long peptides, four single arginine units were covalently attached to either the upper or lower rim of a calix[4]arene, kept in the cone conformation building a ‘parallel’ cyclic array. These new macrocyclic carriers show high efficiency in DNA delivery and transfection in a variety of cell lines.
Clicked and long spaced galactosyl- and lactosylcalix[4]arenes: New multivalent galectin-3 ligands
Four novel calix[4]arene-based glycoclusters were synthesized by conjugating the saccharide units to the macrocyclic scaffold using the CuAAC reaction and using long and hydrophilic ethylene glycol spacers. Initially, two galactosylcalix[4]arenes were prepared starting from saccharide units and calixarene cores which differ in the relative dispositions of the alkyne and azido groups. Once the most convenient synthetic pathway was selected, two further lactosylcalix[4]arenes were obtained, one in the cone, the other one in the 1,3-alternate structure. Preliminary studies of the interactions of these novel glycocalixarenes with galectin-3 were carried out by using a lectin-functionalized chip…
Strontium complexes of calixarene amides in the solid state: structural dependence on the ligand size and on the counter ions
For the first time, crystal structures of three strontium complexes of calixarene amides have been determined. A p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene hexaamide forms a 1∶1 complex with Sr(Pic)2 (Pic = picrate), whereas p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene and p-methoxycalix[8]arene octaamides encapsulate two strontium cations each. The binding geometries of the metal cations depend on the ligand size and on the counter anion used (chloride or picrate).