Supramolecular chemistry has attracted significant interest in recent years to improve therapeutic efficacy through novel drug delivery approaches. Bolaamphiphiles (molecular structure with two hydrophilic heads connected by a hydrophobic segment) appear as promising materials for biomedical applications. They have physico-chemical and biological properties allowing in vitro and in vivo applications. The collaboration between the ARNA laboratory (UMR5320, P. Barthélémy) and the Bordeaux NMR team has shown that a new supramolecular gel, fluorinated bolaamphiphile (GNBA-F), can cause apoptosis in cancer cells. This biological effect results from the unique supramolecular properties of a bolaamphiphile-based gel, which allows a strong interaction with the lipid membrane. Various analyzes in NMR of liquids and solids (NMR ¹⁹F and ¹³C) made it possible in particular to characterize this new gel under physiological conditions and to study the interaction of this supramolecular gel on the membrane.

Impact of this new supramolecular fluorinated gel on the membrane causing the death of cancer cells.

To our knowledge, GNBA-F represents the first supramolecular gel based on bolaamphiphiles exerting anticancer activities via an effect on the lipid membrane. The control of supramolecular systems based on low molecular weight gels (“Low Molecular Weight Gel: LMWG”) opens new perspectives to have an impact on cell fate and viability. This approach appears to be a promising therapeutic option for effectively combating diseases such as cancers. This work was published in Journal of Colloid and Interface Science in 2021. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2021.03.026.)