Two-Antennary Oligoglycine Complexes With Indomethacin in Aqueous Media: Formation and Characterization

Two-antennary oligoglycines are synthetic, biocompatible bola-amphiphiles composed of homologs with varying hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic ratios. These molecules exhibit a pronounced tendency for self-assembly in aqueous media, resulting in the formation of well-defined supramolecular structures known as tectomers. The present study is focused on one representative of the antennary olygoglycine and investigates its potential as a nanocarrier for hydrophobic drugs. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin is used as a model hydrophobic compound. To maximize the entrapment of the drug, we develop an experimental procedure, including the preliminary formation of tectomers at various pH values, followed by the addition of indomethacin. The obtained oligoglycine-indomethacin complexes are further characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering, and Thin-Liquid-Film techniques. The results demonstrate that the two-antennary oligoglicine effectively captures indomethacin and forms stable complexes in aqueous media. We outline the optimal conditions for drug entrapment and propose hypotheses regarding the mechanisms behind the formation of the mixed complexes. This study advances the understanding of interactions between two-antennary oligoglycines and hydrophobic compounds and highlights their potential for biomedical applications.