Bioharmaceutical applications of calixarenes

During the last 15 years, water soluble calixorenes and especially para-sulphonato-calix[n]arene and amphiphilic calixarenes have been the subject of growing interest in the biological domain. This article provides an overview of the studies, by our group and other research groups, that led to the elucidation of biological and biopharmaceutical activity of these calixarenes. The different studies concerning the specific interactions of calixarenes with molecules such as organic and inorganic ions, peptides, polar or neutral organic molecules and biomolecules including proteins and lipids are discussed. The interactions have been studied in solution and in the solid and gaseous using a wide range of methods such as NMR spectroscopy, RP-HPLC, micro-calorimetry, X-ray crystallography, atomic force microscopy, Langnmir balance, etc. Increasingly detailed knowledge is being obtained on the mechanism of the interactions of the calixarenes with biomolecules. At this time, the calixarenes have demonstrated neither toxicity or immune responses, further increasing their interest in the field of biopharmaceutical applications. Undoubtedly, the use of calixarenes as biopharmaceutical molecules will show a large increase in the future.