Lignin dimer derivatives interacting with β-cyclodextrin
Lignin is a biopolymer that is abundant in nature and is mainly found in the cell walls of plants. Due to its natural biodegradability, biocompatibility, stability, and low toxicity, researchers are studying lignin derivatives for multiple pharmacological and biomedical purposes. Lignin consists of three monomers bonded in multiple ways leading to a complex structure. Obtaining desired compounds from lignin requires breaking the lignin down, and then separating out those compounds from the mixture of many different compounds.
One type of molecule that is potentially useful for lignin compound separations is cyclodextrins. Cyclodextrins are cone-shaped oligosaccharides that have the ability to capture guest molecules in their internal hydrophobic cavity, while their hydrophilic exterior makes them water soluble and stabilizes guest-cyclodextrin complexes relative to the unbound guest and cyclodextrin. Cyclodextrins are used as selective adsorbents in agriculture, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology applications. The primary aim of this work was to understand the differences in β-cyclodextrin complexation for two primary lignin dimer bond types (β-O-4 and β−β).