The interactions of two conformers of newly synthesized photoswitchable azobenzene analogue of methotrexate, called Phototrexate, with two cavitand derivatives, have been investigated in dimethyl sulfoxide medium. Photoluminescence methods have been applied to determine the complex stabilities and the related enthalpy and entropy changes associated to the complex formation around room temperature. Results show opposite temperature dependence of complex stabilities. The structure of the upper rims of the host molecules and the reordered solvent structure were identified as the background of the opposite tendencies of temperature dependence at molecular level. These results can support the therapeutic application of the photoswitchable phototrexate, because the formation of inclusion complexes is a promising method to regulate the pharmacokinetics of drug molecules.
Keywords: Phototrexate; cavitand; chemotherapy; fluorescence; inclusion complex; thermodynamics.