Interaction of Dihydrocitrinone with Native and Chemically Modified Cyclodextrins

Area of Science:

• Mycotoxicology
• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Citrinin (CIT) is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin found in food contaminants.
• Dihydrocitrinone (DHC) is the major urinary metabolite of CIT, detectable in human samples.
• Cyclodextrins (CDs) are glucose-based molecules capable of forming host-guest complexes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the complexation of DHC with native and modified beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins.
• To evaluate the impact of pH on DHC-CD complex formation.
• To assess the potential of CD technology for enhancing DHC fluorescence detection.

Main Methods:

• Steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy.
• Computational modeling studies.
• Testing across a wide pH range.

Main Results:

• DHC-CD complex formation is favored in weakly acidic environments.
• Quaternary-ammonium-γ-cyclodextrin (QAGCD) formed the most stable DHC complexes.
• Quaternary-ammonium-β-cyclodextrin (QABCD) significantly enhanced DHC's fluorescence signal (up to 20-fold).
• Stable complexes (log K = 3.2-3.4) were formed with chemically modified CDs.

Conclusions:

• Chemically modified cyclodextrins form stable complexes with DHC.
• CD complexation can substantially increase the fluorescence signal of DHC.
• CD technology offers a promising approach to improve the sensitivity of DHC fluorescence detection.