β-Cyclodextrin- and adamantyl-substituted poly(acrylate) self-assembling aqueous networks designed for controlled complexation and release of small molecules

Three aqueous self-assembling poly(acrylate) networks have been designed to gain insight into the factors controlling the complexation and release of small molecules within them. These networks are formed between 8.8% 6^A-(2-aminoethyl)amino-6^A-deoxy-6^A-β-cyclodextrin, β-CDen, randomly substituted poly(acrylate), PAAβ-CDen, and one of the 3.3% 1-(2-aminoethyl)amidoadamantyl, ADen, 3.0% 1-(6-aminohexyl)amidoadamantyl, ADhn, or 2.9% 1-(12-aminododecyl)amidoadamantyl, ADddn, randomly substituted poly(acrylate)s, PAAADen, PAAADhn and PAAADddn, respectively, such that the ratio of β-CDen to adamantyl substituents is ca. 3:1. The variation of the characteristics of the complexation of the dyes methyl red, methyl orange and ethyl orange in these three networks and by β-cyclodextrin, β-CD, and PAAβ-CDen alone provides insight into the factors affecting dye complexation. The rates of release of the dyes through a dialysis membrane from the three aqueous networks show a high dependence on host-guest complexation between the β-CDen substituents and the dyes as well as the structure and the viscosity of the network as shown by ITC, ¹H NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy, and rheological studies. Such networks potentially form a basis for the design of controlled drug release systems.