Amphiphilic γ-cyclodextrin–fullerene complexes with photodynamic activity

Abstract

Amphiphilic γ-cyclodextrin–fullerene 2 : 1 complexes (C_LFC_H complexes) were prepared by high-speed vibration milling of lipophilic tail-grafted γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD), hydrophilic tail-grafted γ-CD and fullerene C₆₀. The transamidation of γ-CD–fullerene complexes having two amino groups with lipophilic and hydrophilic activated esters also afforded amphiphilic C_LFC_H complexes. Self-assemblies consisting of amphiphilic C_LFC_H complexes efficiently generated singlet oxygen under photoirradiation. Under visible light irradiation conditions, C_LFC_H complexes bearing a vitamin E moiety as a lipophilic tail showed high photodynamic activity toward cancer cells.