Supramolecular self-assembly and nanoencapsulation of [60]fullerene by bis-β-cyclodextrin

Abstract

Bis-β-cyclodextrin connected via ethylene diamine on the primary side of the β-cyclodextrin was synthesized and used for the supramolecular non-covalent inclusion complex with C60 in a mixed solvent system at room temperature. The apparent association constant of the 2:2 inclusion complex determined by combination of UV–Vis absorbance and Benesi–Hildebrand equation was found to be 1.78 × 106 M−1. The product obtained was highly water-soluble and superior in stability in aqueous medium as compared to previously known β-cyclodextrin/C60 complex. The non-covalent self-assembly of bis-β-cyclodextrin and C60 was characterized and confirmed from FT-IR, UV–Vis, XRD and TGA. The supramolecular aggregation behavior and particle size of the inclusion complex was found from transmission electron microscope and static light scattering measurements. The size of the inclusion complex was found to be ~30 ± 5 nm.