Charge-transfer chromatographic study of the complex formation of some anticancer drugs with gamma-cyclodextrin

The interaction between 23 anticancer drugs and gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD) was studied by reversed-phase charge-transfer thin-layer chromatography and the relative strength of interaction was calculated. gamma-CD formed inclusion complexes with 14 compounds, the complex always being more or less hydrophobic than the uncomplexed drug. The inclusion-forming capacity of a drug differed considerably depending on its chemical structure. The linear correlation between the hydrophobicity and the specific hydrophobic surface area of anticancer drugs indicated that they can be considered a homologous series of compounds, although their chemical structures are highly different.