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ABSTRACT
Background: L-DOPA is an amino acid precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine that is extensively used as a prodrug for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. However, L-DOPA is an unstable compound: when exposed to light or added to aqueous solutions, it may degrade, compromising its therapeutic properties.
Methods: In this work, a new type of drug-loaded cyclodextrin-based nanosponge, obtained using molecular imprinting, is described for the prolonged and controlled release of L-DOPA. The molecularly imprinted nanosponges (MIP-NSs) were synthesized by cross-linking β-cyclodextrin with 1,1ʹ-carbonyldiimidazole in DMF in the presence of L-DOPA as a template molecule. TGA, DSC and FTIR analyses were performed to characterize the interactions between L-DOPA and the two nanosponge structures. Quantitative NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the amount and the affinity of L-DOPA entrapped in the nanosponges. The in vitro L-DOPA release kinetics from the NSs were quantitatively determined by HPLC analysis.
Results: The MIP-NSs show a slower and more prolonged release profile than the non-imprinted nanosponges. No degradation of the L-DOPA hosted in the MIP-NSs was observed after long-term storage at room temperature.
Conclusions: The MIP-NSs are a promising alternative for the storage and controlled delivery of L-DOPA.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Prof. Silvia Bodoardo (Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology) for the FESEM analysis.
Declaration of interest
Writing assistance was utilised in the preparation of this manuscript, it was funded by Università di Torino research fund (ex-60%) and carried out by Taylor & Francis. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.