Carborane-β-cyclodextrin complexes as a supramolecular connector for bioactive surfaces

Supramolecular chemistry provides an attractive entry to generate dynamic and well-controlled bioactive surfaces. Novel host-guest systems are urgently needed to provide a broader affinity and applicability portfolio. A synthetic strategy to carborane-peptide bioconjugates was therefore developed to provide an entry to monovalent supramolecular functionalization of β-cyclodextrin coated surfaces. The β-cyclodextrin·carborane-cRGD surfaces are formed efficiently and with high affinity as demonstrated by IR-RAS, WCA, and QCM-D, compare favourable to existing bio-active host-guest surface assemblies, and display an efficient bioactivity, as illustrated by a strong functional effect of the supramolecular system on the cell adhesion and spreading properties. Cells seeded on the supramolecular surface displaying bioactive peptide epitopes exhibited a more elongated morphology, focal adhesions, and stronger cell adhesion compared to control surfaces. This highlights the macroscopic functionality of the novel supramolecular immobilization strategy.