Supramolecular self-assembly based on Cucurbit[8]urils with sulfanilamide and sulfamethoxazole

In this study, cucurbit[8]uril (Q[8]) was used as a carrier for Sulfanilamide (G1) and sulfamethoxazole (G2), and the crystals of their inclusion complexes were cultured in a 3M HCl aqueous solution upon the addition of ZnCl2 as an inducer. The crystal structure was characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The results showed that two new supramolecular self-assemblies were constructed and the main driving forces in the system were hydrogen bond and ion–dipole interactions. In addition, the effects of Q[8] on the solubility and cumulative release rate in vitro of G1 and G2 were investigated by UV Vis spectroscopy. The results showed that the intervention of Q[8] had no effect on the solubility of G1 and G2; the cumulative release rates of G1 and G2 in artificial gastrointestinal juice were reduced and had a certain sustained-release effect.Graphical abstractIn this study, we reported that Cucurbit[8]uril (Q[8]) was used as the carrier of P-aminobenzenesulfonamide and sulfamethoxazole. The experimental results show that the main driving forces of the system are hydrogen bond and ion-dipole interaction and two new supramolecular self-assemblers were constructed.