Metal binding calixarenes with potential biomimetic and biomedical applications

This article exploits the special geometry of calixarene derivatives and the resulting metal binding properties with a focus on biomedical applications. The use of calixarenes as mimics of ion channels through artificial cell membranes, as mimics of metalloenzymes, and in the promising emerging field of calixarene based agents for medical imaging and radiotherapy is summarized.

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► Review of metal binding calixarenes with potential biological applications.
► Applications are in cation transport, enzyme mimicry for in vitro use.
► In vivo applications in radiotherapy and as MRI contrast agents.