Fluorescent Calixarene-Schiff as a Nanovehicle with Biomedical Purposes
José Antonio Lebrón,
Manuel López-López,
María Luisa Moyá,
Mary Deasy,
Ana Muñoz-Wic,
Clara Beatriz García-Calderón,
Iván Valle Rosado,
Pilar López-Cornejo,
Eva Bernal,
Francisco José Ostos
Affiliations
José Antonio Lebrón
Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Seville, C/Profesor García González 1, 41012 Seville, Spain
Manuel López-López
Department of Chemical Engineering, Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Campus de El Carmen, Avda. de las Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain
María Luisa Moyá
Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Seville, C/Profesor García González 1, 41012 Seville, Spain
Mary Deasy
Centre of Applied Science for Health, Department of Applied Science, Technological University of Dublin, Tal13 laght, D24 FKT9 Dublin, Ireland
Ana Muñoz-Wic
Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Seville, C/Profesor García González 1, 41012 Seville, Spain
Clara Beatriz García-Calderón
Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, Avda. Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013 Seville, Spain
Iván Valle Rosado
Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, Avda. Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013 Seville, Spain
Pilar López-Cornejo
Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Seville, C/Profesor García González 1, 41012 Seville, Spain
Eva Bernal
Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Seville, C/Profesor García González 1, 41012 Seville, Spain
Francisco José Ostos
Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Seville, C/Profesor García González 1, 41012 Seville, Spain
Gene therapy is a technique that is currently under expansion and development. Recent advances in genetic medicine have paved the way for a broader range of therapies and laid the groundwork for next-generation technologies. A terminally substituted difluorene-diester Schiff Base calix[4]arene has been studied in this work as possible nanovector to be used in gene therapy. Changes to luminescent behavior of the calixarene macrocycle are reported in the presence of ct-DNA. The calixarene macrocycle interacts with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA), generating changes in its conformation. Partial double-strand denaturation is induced at low concentrations of the calixarene, resulting in compaction of the ct-DNA. However, interaction between calixarene molecules themselves takes place at high calixarene concentrations, favoring the decompaction of the polynucleotide. Based on cytotoxicity studies, the calixarene macrocycle investigated has the potential to be used as a nanovehicle and improve the therapeutic efficacy of pharmacological agents against tumors.
