Influence of chemical structure of amphiphilic β-cyclodextrins on their ability to form stable nanoparticles

The aim of the study was to establish a correlation between the chemical structure of amphiphilic beta-cyclodextrins (beta-CDa) and their ability to form stable nanospheres. Amphiphilic derivatives were obtained according to an optimized well-known three-step synthesis. The selective acylation of the secondary face of beta-CD being well controlled, several beta-CDa presenting different substitution degree were synthesized. The self-organization properties of the derivatives were evaluated. The peracylated beta-CD, i.e. bearing 14 alkyl chains on the secondary hydroxyl groups, does not yield stable nanosphere suspension, even in the presence of a non ionic surfactant in the aqueous phase. However, the presence of partially acylated derivatives within the beta-CDa allows self-assembly into stable nanosphere suspension. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.