Tadpole-shaped β-cyclodextrin-tagged poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone): synthesis, characterization and studies of its complexation with phenolphthalein and anti tumor activities

Tadpole-shaped beta-cyclodextrin-tagged poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (beta-CD-PNVP) has been synthesised via the click reaction of alkyne-terminated PNVP and azide-functionalized beta-CD. The formed polymer is characterized by H-1 NMR, FTIR, and TGA study. The complexing ability of such a polymer with phenolphthalein is considerably lower with respect to that with beta-CD alone. Doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded beta-CD-PNVP (DOX-beta-CD-PNVP) exhibits higher tumoricidal activity against a panel of tumor cell lines derived from sarcoma (U2-OS) and carcinomas (MCF-7 and HEPG2), causing significant lysis of tumor cells compared to free DOX. The formulation also demonstrates significantly higher uptake by the tumor cells and enhances apoptosis compared to free DOX.