Heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin

Heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin is a cholesterol sequestering agent which modifies lipid rafts of the cell membrane. It has been observed β-cyclodextrins are involved in cytotoxicity in various cells through complexation with cholesterol and membrane lipids. In addition, ionic forms of these molecules greatly reduce its cytoxicity compared to its methylated form. The cytotoxicity of β-cyclodextrins is affected by the position of the substitution of the methylated portion of the molecule. Furthermore, the ability of a β-cyclodextrin to potentiate cytotoxic effects is dependent on the molecules ability to extract cholesterol from cell membranes. Alternate studies indicate that Heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin contains a stereoselective cavity only when the R substituent is linked to the chiral carbon which contains an aromatic ring.