In this study, a full organic and water-soluble material was synthesized by coupling low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI-800) with cyclotriveratrilene (CTV). The water-soluble cross-linked polymer contains hydrophobic holes with a high coordination capability towards different organic drug molecules. The coordinating capability towards hydrophilic drugs (doxorubicin, gatifloxacin and sinomenine) and hydrophobic drugs (camptothecin and celastrol) was analyzed in an aqueous medium by using NMR, UV-Vis and emission spectroscopies. The coordination of drug molecules with the armed CTV unit through hydrophobic interactions was observed. In particular, celastrol exhibited more ionic interactions with the PEI moiety of the hosting system. In the case of doxorubicin, the host-guest detachment was induced by the addition of ammonium chloride, suggesting that the intracellular environment can facilitate the release of the drug molecules.
Keywords: cyclotriveratrilene; hydrophilic material; hydrophobic interaction; polyethyleneimine; polymer cross-linking.