Solid Xenon Carrier Based on α-Cyclodextrin: Properties, Preparation, and Application

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Materials Science
• Inorganic Chemistry

Background:

• Inert gas xenon (Xe) has established medical applications as an anesthetic, metabolic regulator, and organoprotector.
• Current Xe administration methods, primarily inhalation, necessitate specialized and costly equipment, limiting widespread clinical use.
• There is a need for alternative, more accessible methods for delivering xenon therapeutically.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a stable, solid carrier for oral xenon (Xe) administration.
• To characterize the physical properties of a novel alpha-cyclodextrin (α-CD)-based Xe complex for storage and delivery.
• To evaluate the feasibility of oral administration of this Xe complex.

Main Methods:

• Formation of an alpha-cyclodextrin-xenon (α-CD-Xe) complex via interaction in aqueous solution under elevated pressure.
• Stabilization of the complex through vacuum freeze-drying (lyophilization) to remove water.
• Assessment of complex stability at room temperature and Xe release upon rehydration.
• In vivo evaluation using the forced swim test in rats following oral administration.

Main Results:

• A stable, solid α-CD-Xe complex was successfully produced and characterized.
• The lyophilized complex demonstrated stability for months at room temperature and rapid Xe release upon rehydration.
• Oral administration of the lyophilized α-CD-Xe complex in rats significantly increased swimming duration, indicating potential therapeutic effects.

Conclusions:

• The developed lyophilized α-CD-Xe complex offers a stable and orally administrable form of xenon.
• This novel formulation overcomes the limitations of traditional Xe inhalation methods.
• The findings support the development of Xe-based therapeutics suitable for storage, transport, and out-of-hospital medical use.