Posted by Zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (Zn (DDC)2), a disulfiram metabolite (anti-alcoholism drug), has shown a strong anti-cancer activity in vitro. However, its application was limited by its low aqueous solubility and rapid metabolism.
The solubility of Zn (DDC)2 was significantly increased using a complexation method with cyclodextrins (HPBCD and SBECD). The formation of CD-Zn (DDC)2 inclusion complexes was investigated using the thermogravimetric analyses TGA and DSC alongside IR and X-RD. The MTT cytotoxicity study elucidated an improvement in the anti-cancer activity of the drug upon the formation of the inclusion complexes compared to the free drug.
Survival curves for A549 lung cancer cell lines after 72 h exposure to the Zn (DDC)2 complex with SBECD (SBE-L) and HPBCD (HP-L), to the free drug (DOC-Zn) and to the CDs (SBE-E and HP-E).
Kaya, A.; Arafat, B.; Chichger, H.; Tolaymat, I.; Pierscionek, B.; Khoder, M.; Najlah, M. Preparation and Characterisation of Zinc Diethyldithiocarbamate–Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes for Potential Lung Cancer Treatment. Pharmaceutics 2024, 16, 65. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16010065