This contribution reports the design, synthesis, photochem. properties and drug inclusion capability of two novel β-cyclodextrin (βCD) conjugates, βCD-NBFNO1 and βCD-NBFNO2, covalently integrating an N-nitroso amino-nitro-benzofurazan in the primary and secondary hydroxyl rims of the βCD scaffold, resp. through flexible spacers of different length. Both βCD conjugates are water-sol. and release nitric oxide (NO) under the input of either blue or green light, with quantum yields ΦNO (blue) = 0.13, 0.31 and ΦNO (green) = 0.007, 0.013 resp., the former representing the largest values ever reported for nonmetal-contg.
NO donors activatable by visible light. The good contrast between the fluorescence green emission of the chromogenic moiety after and before the NO release permits the easy and in real-time quantification of the amt. of NO generated, without the addn. of external fluorescent agents.
Despite the presence of the appendages, these βCD derivs. are also able to complex betaxolol, a β-blocker drug widely used for the redn. of the intraocular pressure, with binding consts. K(b) = 500 +- 50 and 1100 +- 100 M(-1), resp., without affecting the photochem. performances.
In view of the well-known vasodilator properties of NO, the present βCD derivs. represent intriguing candidates for biopharmaceutical research studies addressed to combined therapeutic ocular applications.