Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Efficient oxygen transport and accurate anemia diagnostics remain significant medical challenges, as current therapies suffer from stability limitations, immunogenic risks, and inadequate sensitivity. Cucurbiturils (CB[n]), a family of pumpkin-shaped supramolecular macrocycles, present promising solutions due to their rigid architecture, hydrophobic cavities, and strong host–guest binding properties. Functional derivatives such as perhydroxy-cucurbit[5]uril can reversibly bind dioxygen under physiological conditions, highlighting their potential as synthetic hemoglobin substitutes. Additionally, cucurbituril-based probes for Fe3+ and folate enable sensitive and selective detection of iron- and folate-deficiency anemia. Biocompatibility assessments in vitro and in vivo indicate low systemic toxicity and acceptable hemocompatibility for homologues such as CB[6], CB[7], and CB[8], though apoptosis, myotoxicity, or cardiotoxicity may occur at elevated concentrations. These data emphasize the need for thorough toxicological evaluation but also demonstrate that cucurbiturils provide a versatile platform for oxygen transport, diagnostic applications, and drug-delivery strategies in anemia management. While their translation to clinical practice is still at an early stage, the structural tunability, stability, and encouraging safety profile of CB[n] macrocycles offer a strong basis for continued biomedical development.
Source: Journal of Clinical Medicine
DOI: 10.3390/jcm14238571
Institution: Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad
Language: English
Subfield: Organic Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W4417274125