Cyclodextrin pendant polymer as an efficient drug carrier for scutellarin

A novel beta-cyclodextrin pendant polymer (epsilon-PL-CD), composed of poly(epsilon-lysine) (epsilon-PL) main chain and glycine-beta-cyclodextrin (Gly-CD) side chains, was prepared by a simple two-step procedure. The epsilon-PL-CD was investigated as a drug carrier of hydrophobic drug scutellarin (SCU). The characterization and complexation mode of the SCU:epsilon-PL-CD were researched in both solution and solid state by means of photoluminescence spectroscopy, H-1 and 2D NMR, X-Ray powder diffraction (XRPD), thermal gravimetric analysis, Particle size and Zeta potential. The solubility test indicated that the solubilizing ability of SCU:epsilon-PL-CD was significantly improved compared with SCU:beta-CD and free SCU. Besides, in vitro cell experiment, it was found that SCU:epsilon-PL-CD has a strong inhibitory effect on the growth and invasion of tumor cells. The present study provides useful information for epsilon-PL-CD as a drug carrier material.