A characterization study of resveratrol/sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex and in vitro anticancer activity

•Resveratrol–sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex was prepared by freeze-drying.•Solubility phase studies and Job's plot method evidenced the presence in solution of a 1:1 inclusion complex.•FTIR-ATR analysis evidenced, in solid phase, the functional groups involved in the host–guest interactions.•Sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin improves anticancer activity of resveratrol on a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7).

A resveratrol/sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex was prepared using the freeze-drying method and characterized in solution through UV–vis spectroscopy, solubility phase studies and Job's plot methods. At the solid state it was characterized using the FTIR-ATR technique. Sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin has a high affinity for the drug, and forms an inclusion complex with a 1:1 molar ratio both in solution and as a solid sample. It also has a high stability constant (Kc, 10,114 M−1). Complexation strongly increases the water solubility of resveratrol (from 0.03 mg/ml to 1.1 mg/ml, at 25 °C) and positively influences its in vitro anticancer activity which was observed on a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). In solid phase, FTIR-ATR revealed itself as being a useful technique in elucidating the complexation mechanism, which it did by emphasizing the functional groups involved in the activation of non-covalent “host–guest” interactions.

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