MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems 18 — Flashcards

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Cyclodextrins (CDs) are a group of naturally cyclic oligosaccharides consisting of six, seven, or eight glucose subunits connected by α-(1,4) glycosidic bonds, named α-, β-, and γ-CDs, respectively. They are shaped cylindrically, with glycosidic oxygen bridges on the inside and hydroxyl groups on the outside. CDs can form inclusion complexes with molecules whose moieties interact with their internal surfaces.

A novel method was developed for the preparation of β-CD functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) (Figure 1).

Monotosyl-polyethylene glycol (PEG) silane was synthesized by the route shown in Figure 2, where a PEG diol was modified to form the corresponding monotosyl-PEG, followed by reaction of the molecule with IPTS. 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy were used to track molecule formation after each step, ultimately confirming formation of monotosyl-PEG silane. The nanoparticles were modified with the monotosyl-PEG silane first, and then amino-β-CD units displaced the tosyl units.