Specific interaction between galactose branched-cyclodextrins and hepatocytes in vitro

Abstract The purpose of this experiment was to investigate specific interaction between galactose branched-cyclodextrins (gal-CyDs) and hepatocytes in vitro. Gal-CyDs were synthesized by an enzymatic method by using β -galactosidase. Gal-CyDs, galactose, glucose branched-CyDs (glu-CyDs) or glucose were incubated with hepatocytes on lactosyl polystyrene polymer (PVLA, high binding to hepatocytes) coated dish. It was found that adherence of hepatocytes to PVLA was inhibited by incorporation of gal-CyDs or galactose in the incubation medium at a concentration of 10 mM, but was not inhibited by incorporation of glu-CyDs or glucose at 20 mM. Further, after incubation of hepatocyte suspension with both fluorescein isothiocyanate-PVLA (FITC-PVLA) and gal-CyDs, gal-CyDs at 10 mM did inhibit the binding of FITC-PVLA to hepatocytes. In conclusion, it was suggested that enzymatically synthesized gal-CyDs have specific interaction with hepatocytes and may be useful as a drug targeting carrier to hepatocytes.