Calixarenes: Generalities and Their Role in Improving the Solubility, Biocompatibility, Stability, Bioavailability, Detection, and Transport of Biomolecules

Abstract

The properties and characteristics of calix[n]arenes are described, as well as their capacity to form amphiphilic assemblies by means of the design of synthetic macrocycles with a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail. Their interaction with various substances of interest in pharmacy, engineering, and medicine is also described. In particular, the role of the calix[n]arenes in the detection of dopamine, the design of vesicles and liposomes employed in the manufacture of systems of controlled release drugs used in the treatment of cancer, and their role in improving the solubility of testosterone and anthelmintic drugs and the biocompatibility of biomaterials useful for the manufacture of synthetic organs is emphasized. The versatility of these macrocycles, able to vary in size, shape, functional groups, and hydrophobicity and to recognize various biomolecules and molecules with biological activity without causing cytotoxicity is highlighted.

The Odd Couple(s): An Overview of Beta-Lactam Antibiotics Bearing More Than One Pharmacophoric Group

“…Due to their intrinsic structural and physicochemical characteristics, they have been applied in different fields [ 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Particularly, calixarene derivatives have attracted much attention in recent years in medicinal chemistry due to their potential biological activity and their function as carriers or spatial organizers of various kinds of biologically active molecules [ 33 , 34 , 35 ]. The functionalization of the upper and lower rims allows for the possibility of introducing different moieties on the rigid calixarene scaffold with preorganized spatial relationships between the substituents.…”

Thermally Stable Nitrothiacalixarene Chromophores: Conformational Study and Aggregation Behavior

“…Control of supramolecular interactions plays an increasing role in the performance of organic dyes [ 1 ] and macrocycles [ 2 ] in a variety of applications including nonlinear optical (NLO) materials, sensors, drug carriers, catalysts, and explosives. Among macrocycles, calix[4]arenes should be particularly mentioned, whose facile stereo-, regio-, and iteroselective modifications [ 3 ] provide diverse architectures displaying multipoint binding [ 4 ], allosteric regulation [ 5 ], and self-assembly behavior [ 6 , 7 ]. Calixarenes containing nitro groups on the upper rim offer potential applications as NLO materials [ 8 ], redox probes [ 9 ], and colorimetric chemosensors [ 10 ] due to the formation of a push-pull multichromophoric system consisting of a nitro group as the electron-withdrawing unit, a benzene ring of calixarene as the aromatic spacer, and a lower rim alkoxy group as the electron donor.…”

Towards Greener Mechanosynthesis of Functional Calixarenes

“…Calixarenes are a well-known class of synthetic macrocycles that possess an intramolecular bowshaped cavity capable of accommodate different types of molecular guests. Their synthesis, properties and applications have been extensively reviewed [1,2]. Presenting considerable functional and tuneable diversity, its synthesis and functionalization is still challenging.…”