Recent advances in supramolecular antidotes

Poisons always have fascinated humankind. Initially considered as deleterious or hazardous substances, the modern era has witnessed the controlled utilization of dangerous poisons in medicine and cosmetics. Simultaneously, antidotes have become crucial as reversal agents to counteract the effects of a poison, and they are also used today to positively cancel the benefits of a poison after use. Currently, the majority of poisons are composed of small molecules. This review focuses on recent developments to reverse or prevent toxic effects of poisons by encapsulation in host molecules. Cyclodextrins, cucurbiturils, acyclic cucurbituril derivatives, calixarenes, and pillararenes, have been reported to largely impact the effects of toxic compounds, thus extending the current paradigm of small molecule antidotes by adding a new family of macrocyclic compounds to the current arsenal of antidotes. Along this line of research, endogenous harmful species are also sequestered by one or more of these supramolecular host molecules, expanding the potential of supramolecular antidotes to diverse therapeutic areas.

Automated summary

Poisons have long fascinated humans, and modern technology has allowed for controlled utilization of dangerous poisons in medicine and cosmetics, with the development of antidotes becoming crucial. Recent research focuses on reversing or preventing the toxic effects of poisons by encapsulating them in host molecules, expanding the potential for safer antidotes to be developed.