Thiolated cyclodextrins are structurally simple mucoadhesive macromolecules, which are able to host drugs and increase their apparent water solubility, as well as interact with the mucus layer prolonging drug residence time on the site of absorption. The aim of this study was to synthesize through green microwave-assisted process a freely soluble thiolated 2-methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCDSH). Its inclusion complex properties with dexamethasone (Dex), a poor water soluble drug, and mucoadhesive characteristics were also determined. The product was deeply characterized through NMR spectroscopy (2D COSY, 2D HSQC, 1D/2D TOCSY, and 1D ROESY), showing a thiolation degree of 67%, a selective thiolation on the C6 residues and a monomeric structure. The association constant of MβCD and MβCD-SH with Dex resulted in 2514.3 ± 32.3 M−1 and 2147.0 ± 69.3 M−1, respectively, indicating that both CDs were able to host the drug. Microrheological analysis of mucin in the presence of MBCD-SH showed an increase of complex viscosity, G' and G”, due to disulphide bond formation. The cytotoxicity screening on fibroblast BALB/3T3 clone A31 cells indicated an IC50 of 27.7 mg/mL and 30.0 mg/mL, for MβCD and MβCD-SH, respectively. Finally, MβCD-SH was able to self-assemble in water into nanometric structures, both in the presence and absence of the complexed drug.
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