Supramolecular system of podophyllotoxin and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin: Characterization, inclusion mode, docking calculation, solubilization, stability and cytotoxic activity

The inclusion complexation behavior, characterization, and inclusion mode of podophyllotoxin (POD) with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP beta CD) were investigated in both solution and the solid state by means of XRD, DSC, SEM, H-1 and 2D NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy. The results showed that the water solubility and thermal stability of POD were obviously increased in the inclusion complex with HP beta CD. The cytotoxicity of POD/HP beta CD inclusion complex against all the human tumor cell lines investigated still remains. This satisfactory water solubility and high thermal stability of the POD/HP beta CD complex will be potentially useful for their application as herbal medicines or healthcare products. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.