Amphiphilic Acyclic Cucurbit[<i>n</i>]uril: Synthesis, Self-Assembly, and Chemotherapeutic Delivery to Overcome Multidrug Resistance

A new amphiphilic acyclic cucurbit[<i>n</i>]uril (CB[<i>n</i>]) is designed and synthesized. This amphiphilic acyclic CB[<i>n</i>] could encapsulate pharmaceutical drugs via a host-guest interaction. Self-assembly of this acyclic CB[<i>n</i>] forms spherical nanoparticles with diameters of 91 nm in water. The self-assembled nanoparticles are capable of delivering doxorubicin with high efficiency. Cell experiments show that the doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles can improve cellular uptake and cytotoxicity by using the MCF-7/ADR cell line. The A549 tumor-bearing mouse model shows that self-assembled nanoparticles help overcome multidrug resistance in vivo. Cell study and histological assays confirm the biocompatibility of self-assembled nanoparticles.