Abstract
The properties and characteristics of calix[n]arenes are described, as well as their capacity to form amphiphilic assemblies by means of the design of synthetic macrocycles with a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail. Their interaction with various substances of interest in pharmacy, engineering, and medicine is also described. In particular, the role of the calix[n]arenes in the detection of dopamine, the design of vesicles and liposomes employed in the manufacture of systems of controlled release drugs used in the treatment of cancer, and their role in improving the solubility of testosterone and anthelmintic drugs and the biocompatibility of biomaterials useful for the manufacture of synthetic organs is emphasized. The versatility of these macrocycles, able to vary in size, shape, functional groups, and hydrophobicity and to recognize various biomolecules and molecules with biological activity without causing cytotoxicity is highlighted.
Highlights
In the fields of pharmacy, medicine, and nutrition, there are several macrocycle molecules that have been used for improving the solubility of the active ingredient of drugs and their stability and bioavailability for the determination of proteins and nucleic acids
The calix[4]arenes can be functionalized on the upper rim or on the lower rim with several functional groups such as amides, imines, sulfur, azo, semicarbazone, and alkyl groups, among others, producing a wide variety of macrocycle compounds with different properties of recognition, selectivity, solubility, and degree of hydrophobicity [40]. This last aspect is very important, because with the introduction of polar groups to the calixarenes it is possible to design amphiphilic macrocycles with a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail, which may self-assemble into micelles, vesicles, liposomes, and other aggregates useful in the transport of drugs [19]
Calixarenes are substances of easy access and of easy chemical calixarenes, making it possible to design amphiphilic macrocycles with a hydrophilic head and a modification, allowing one to obtain systems with the introduction of polar groups to the hydrophobic tail, which may self-assemble into micelles, vesicles, liposomes, nanocapsules, and other calixarenes, making it possible to design amphiphilic macrocycles with a hydrophilic head and a aggregates
Summary
In the fields of pharmacy, medicine, and nutrition, there are several macrocycle molecules that have been used for improving the solubility of the active ingredient of drugs and their stability and bioavailability for the determination of proteins and nucleic acids They have even exhibited biological activity or value in sensitization therapies, as seen for example with cucurbit[n]urils [1], macrocyclic tetrapyrazolics [2], resorcinarenes [3], crown ethers [4], cyclodextrins [5], phthalocyanines [6], and calixarenes [7], among others.
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