This study focused on the use of NMR techniques as a tool for the investigation of complex formation between proparacaine and cyclodextrins (CDs) or p-sulfonic acid calix[6]arene. The pH dependence of the complexation of proparacaine with beta-CD and p-sulfonic acid calix[6]arene was studied and binding constants were determined by (1)H NMR spectroscopy [diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY)] for the charged and uncharged forms of the local anesthetic in beta-CD and p-sulfonic acid calix[6]arene. The stoichiometries of the complexes was determined and rotating frame Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (ROESY) 1D experiments revealed details of the molecular insertion of proparacaine into the beta-CD and p-sulfonic acid calix[6]arene cavities. The results unambiguously demonstrate that pH is an important factor for the development of supramolecular architectures based on beta-CD and p-sulfonic acid calix[6]arene as the host molecules. Such host-guest complexes were investigated in view of their potential use as new therapeutic formulations, designed to increase the bioavailability and/or to decrease the systemic toxicity of proparacaine in anesthesia procedures.

The aim of this work was to study the interaction between the local anesthetic benzocaine and p-sulfonic acid calix[n]arenes using NMR and theoretical calculations and to assess the effects of complexation on cytotoxicity of benzocaine. The architectures of the complexes were proposed according to (1) H NMR data (Job plot, binding constants, and ROESY) indicating details on the insertion of benzocaine in the cavity of the calix[n]arenes. The proposed inclusion compounds were optimized using the PM3 semiempirical method, and the electronic plus nuclear repulsion energy contributions were performed at the DFT level using the PBE exchange/correlation functional and the 6-311G(d) basis set. The remarkable agreement between experimental and theoretical approaches adds support to their use in the structural characterization of the inclusion complexes. In vitro cytotoxic tests showed that complexation intensifies the intrinsic toxicity of benzocaine, possibly by increasing the water solubility of the anesthetic and favoring its partitioning inside of biomembranes.