Cellular and in Vivo Biological Activities of the Calix[n]arenes

The biological activities of the calix[n]arenes have been extensively reported on, with regard to various forms of life ranging from self-replicating systems, such as, viruses, through bacteria, fungi and mammalian cells to human beings. This article reviews more than one hundred different calix[n]arenes classified according to their biological effects directly observed on living species. These macrocyclic molecules have been reported as detoxifying agents, as having antibacterial, antiviral, anticoagulant, anticancer, antifungal activities, as membrane protein modulators / extracters, drug transporters and fluorescent probes. Special in vivo sections, have been inserted when possible for each biological effect showing the impact of the calix[n]arenes on whole living system such as animals or humans.