Host-Guest Chemistry: CB[n] Non-covalent binding with Aspartame

Sanjana Lodha, Amna Khan, Vijay Ramalingam

College of Arts and Sciences, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Utica, NY, USA

The ability to encapsulate tiny guests more effectively and selectively has made it possible to create multi-component supramolecular aggregated designs that are dynamic and regulated for a range of purposes. The increasing complexity of drugs in the pharmaceutical and medical world today has led to a greater need for these aggregated chemicals to assist in drug delivery. This research looked at the macrocycle molecule cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]), a polymer of glycoluril, and its ability to bind to other common drug molecules, and further analyzed its potential to deliver drugs to specific targets. The structure of CB[n] is ring-like, similar to a pumpkin, with a hydrophobic inner cavity. CB[n] have a high affinity for cationic compounds due to the carbonyl groups that line the cavity. All these features contribute to the host guest interactions CB[n] participates in, which is particularly appealing when it comes to considering drug molecules as the guest. Initially, a list of 7 drug names were compiled, and researched to test the theoretical solubility quotient with CB [n]. By using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the biological properties and chemical shifts of CB[n] and other drug molecules were compared to test their degree of interaction with each other.