Interactions between cyclodextrins and cellular components: Towards greener medical applications?

Leclercq, Loïc

proposed that CDs complex lipids during their naturally exchange from the membrane to the aqueous phase [81] . Stella and He supposed that the CDs interact directly with the membrane of the cells prior to lipid efflux [45] . In the same idea, Mascetti et al. proposed that CDs interact directly with cholesterol [82] . Based on molecular simulations, López et al. proposed the following mechanism: i) association of CDs in aqueous solution to form dimers, ii) binding of dimers at the membrane surface, iii) extraction and complexation of cholesterol, and iv) desorption of CD/cholesterol in the aqueous solution [83] . However, whatever the molecular mechanism, the lipid efflux mediated by CDs is clearly different from those of surfactants. Indeed, at low concentrations, the mechanism involves the penetration of the detergent molecules into the lipid membrane leading to increase its fluidity. In contrast, at higher concentrations, the extraction of membrane constituents is ensured by micellar solubilization [84, 85] .