Bridging β-Cyclodextrin Prevents Self-Inclusion, Promotes Supramolecular Polymerization, and Promotes Cooperative Interaction with Nucleic Acids

Abstract

A bridge to assemble: Cyclodextrins bridged with an ammonium linker bearing a hydrophobic substituent can efficiently form supramolecular polymers and avoid the competing self-inclusion and head-to-head processes. Furthermore, the self-assembling cyclodextrin derivative interacts in a highly cooperative manner with DNA, as demonstrated by compaction experiments. It also interacts cooperatively with siRNA and allows its transfection.

Keywords: cyclodextrin; inclusion complexes; nucleic acids; supramolecular polymers.