Supramolecular hydrogels of β-cyclodextrin linked to calcium homopoly-l-guluronate for release of coumarins with trypanocidal activity.

Association constants and thermodynamicsparameters on inclusion of four 3-amido coumarins that present trypanocidal activity, into 6-amino-β-cyclodextrin (1:1 stoichimetry) were determined. In addition, pure homopolymeric-α-l-guluronate fraction prepared by partial hydrolysis of sodium alginate from Sub-Antarctic Kelp Durvillaea antarctica was conjugated with 6-amino-β-cyclodextrin (64% yield). To glycoconjugates, 3-amido coumarins were incorporated (73% of encapsulation) and supramolecular hydrogels were prepared by gelation with Ca ions. The trypanocidal activity of the inclusion complexes increased by 10%. Likewise, an increase in diffusion in artificial membrane was observed (13%). It was found that the inclusion complexes increased the variation of the mitochondrial potential of T. cruzi (17%). The lowest release of substituted amidocoumarins (ACS) from supramolecular hydrogels occurred at pH 1.2 whereas the maximum release (34%) was observed at pH 8.0. Encapsulation of lipophilic bioactive compounds in supramolecular hydrogels allows the generation of release systems sensitive to pH with potential application in biomedicine.