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Updated: Jan 12, 2026

The Synthesis of RGD-functionalized Hydrogels as a Tool for Therapeutic Applications
Published on: October 7, 2016
Synthesis of amino acid-grafted cyclodextrins based on dry heat esterification and characterization of their
Baicun Chen1, Qianzhu Lin1, Xiaojing Li2
1State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Collaborative innovation center of food safety and quality control in Jiangsu Province, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
Abstract:
The inherent limitations of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), including low solubility and structural rigidity, restrict its delivery efficiency and guest encapsulation capacity. To overcome these drawbacks, this study designed and evaluated aspartic acid (AA)-grafted β-CD (AACD) as a potential multifunctional carrier through a dry-heat esterification reaction. The obtained AACD exhibited about 40-fold higher water solubility than native β-CD and was confirmed to be non-toxic. Notably, the β-CD cavity structure was preserved, enabling high loading capacities of 93.9 % for curcumin and 65 % for cinnamaldehyde. The inclusion complex of AACD with curcumin exhibited high stability under various environmental and physiological conditions. Moreover, pH-responsive antibacterial complexes were formed by cross-linking the introduced amines with aldehydes. Overall, AACD represents a promising multifunctional carrier that combines cavity encapsulation with branched cross-linking, and its complexes with bioactive components hold promising applications in the dietary supplements and functional foods.
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