Conformational and entropy analyses of extended molecular dynamics simulations of α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins and of the β-cyclodextrin/nabumetone complex

Herein, we report the results of 5.0 μs molecular dynamics simulations of native α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins (CDs) in explicit water solvent that are useful to describe, in a comparative manner, the distorted geometry of the CD molecules in aqueous solution, the width and fluctuations of their cavities, and the number of cavity waters. By discretizing the time evolution of the dihedral angles, the rate of conformational change of the torsional motions and the conformational entropy are calculated for the three CDs, thus allowing the analysis of the extent of the MD sampling and the entropic significance of the CD flexibility. To obtain a first estimation of the conformational and entropy changes in the host molecule upon ligand binding, the inclusion complex formed between β-CD and nabumetone is also studied. Overall, the simulations complement previous experimental results on the structure and dynamics of native CDs, and together with the results obtained for the inclusion complex, provide insight into the entropic effects at work on the binding equilibria between CDs and guest ligands.