Evaluation of β-cyclodextrin-modified gemini surfactant-based delivery systems in melanoma models.

Novel drug delivery systems are developed to improve the biological behavior of poorly soluble drugs and to improve therapeutic outcomes. In melanoma therapy, the goal is efficient drug delivery and mitigation of drug resistance. Melphalan (Mel), a currently used therapeutic agent for melanoma, requires solvent system for solubilization, leading to poor chemical stability.

Impact of phospholipids on plasmid packaging and toxicity of gemini nanoparticles.

Understanding the relationship of structural modifications on the assembly and disassembly of synthetic or non-viral gene delivery is crucial with regard to their rational development. This study describes the use of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), as a new tool, to investigate the effect of systematic chemical modifications to dicationic N,N-bis(dimethylalkyl)-α,ω-alkanediammonium surfactants (gemini surfactants) on the self-assembly and physical properties of a series of gemini nanoparticles (gemini NPs). A systematic screening of 27 gemini-plasmid (GP) complexes and gemini NPs showed that their final morphology is governed by the pre-compaction of plasmid by the gemini surfactants.

A 1H NMR Study of Host/Guest Supramolecular Complexes of a Curcumin Analogue with β-Cyclodextrin and a β-Cyclodextrin-Conjugated Gemini Surfactant.

Host systems based on β-cyclodextrin (βCD) were employed as pharmaceutical carriers to encapsulate a poorly soluble drug, curcumin analogue (NC 2067), in order to increase its water solubility. βCD was chemically conjugated with an amphiphilic gemini surfactant with the ability to self-assemble and to form nanoscale supramolecular structures. The conjugated molecule, βCDgemini surfactant (βCDg), was shown to be a promising drug delivery agent.

Characterization of the host-guest complex of a curcumin analog with β-cyclodextrin and β-cyclodextrin-gemini surfactant and evaluation of its anticancer activity.

Background: Curcumin analogs, including the novel compound NC 2067, are potent cytotoxic agents that suffer from poor solubility, and hence, low bioavailability. Cyclodextrin-based carriers can be used to encapsulate such agents. In order to understand the interaction between the two molecules, the physicochemical properties of the host-guest complexes of NC 2067 with β-cyclodextrin (CD) or β-cyclodextrin-gemini surfactant (CDgemini surfactant) were investigated for the first time.