Interaction of a flavone loaded on surface-modified dextran-spooled superparamagnetic nanoparticles with β-cyclodextrin and DNA

Abstract

Flavones are biologically active compounds obtained mainly from plant sources. Pharmaceutically important compounds can be delivered to the physiological target by loading them in carriers like cyclodextrins and magnetic nanoparticles. Herein, the binding of 6-methoxyflavone to β-cyclodextrin and DNA is studied using UV–visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The loading of 6-methoxyflavone onto a magnetic nanoparticles is employed. β-cyclodextrin encapsulates the 6-methoxyflavone to form an inclusion complex. β-cyclodextrin also used to draw forth 6-methoxyflavone loaded onto a magnetic nanoparticles. The morphology, magnetic property and the crystallite size of the nanoparticles are studied using scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and X-ray diffraction techniques, respectively. The binding of the drug-loaded magnetic nanoparticles to DNA shows that the compound is accessible to DNA and available mostly on the surface of the nanoparticles despite a modified dextan polymer supposedly encapsulates the flavone.

Keywords:

• β-cyclodextrin
• 6-methoxyflavone
• calf thymus DNA
• Fluorescence spectroscopy
• Superparamagnetic nanoparticles

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for financial support through the project SR/FT/CS-062/2009 under the Fast track scheme for young scientists.