Complexing the Marine Sesquiterpene Euplotin C by Means of Cyclodextrin-Based Nanosponges: A Preliminary Investigation
Alessandra Bertoli,
Anthea LoBue,
Luca Quattrini,
Stefania Sartini,
Beatrice Polini,
Sara Carpi,
Francesco Paolo Frontini,
Graziano Di Giuseppe,
Graziano Guella,
Paola Nieri,
Concettina La Motta
Affiliations
Alessandra Bertoli
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Anthea LoBue
Myocardial Infarction Research Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Angiology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
Luca Quattrini
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Stefania Sartini
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Beatrice Polini
Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Sara Carpi
NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro, 56127 Pisa, Italy
Francesco Paolo Frontini
Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Luca Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Graziano Di Giuseppe
Marine Pharma Centre, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Graziano Guella
Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Department of Physic, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 14, 38050 Povo Trento, Italy
Paola Nieri
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Concettina La Motta
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Euplotin C is a sesquiterpene of marine origin endowed with significant anti-microbial and anti-tumor properties. Despite the promising functional profile, its progress as a novel drug candidate has failed so far, due to its scarce solubility and poor stability in aqueous media, such as biological fluids. Therefore, overcoming these limits is an intriguing challenge for the scientific community. In this work, we synthesized β-cyclodextrin-based nanosponges and investigated their use as colloidal carriers for stably complex euplotin C. Results obtained proved the ability of the carrier to include the natural compound, showing remarkable values of both loading efficiency and capacity. Moreover, it also allowed us to preserve the chemical structure of the loaded compound, which was recovered unaltered once extracted from the complex. Therefore, the use of β-cyclodextrin-based nanosponges represents a viable option to vehiculate euplotin C, thus opening up its possible use as pharmacologically active compound.
