Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been connected to adverse health effects such as cancer, thyroid disease, and developmental delays. Host-guest interactions between β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), a cyclic sugar, and PFASs were investigated in the context of biological systems as a possible remediation and therapeutic strategy. The host-guest complex between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and β-CD was studied in the presence of human serum albumin (HSA) via 19F Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy. HSA is the most abundant protein in human blood, and due to the partitioning of PFASs within the body, is expected to interact with PFASs. Interactions between HSA and the carboxylate group of PFOA caused β-CD to shift towards the end of the PFOA chain. Presence of HSA, however, did not alter the strength of β-CD encapsulation of PFOA, with 1:1 β-CD:PFOA association constants on the order of 105 M-1 whether or not HSA was present. These results show β-CD may have potential for therapeutic purposes in regards to PFAS exposure. The study was then extended to live organisms. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to various concentrations of PFOA alone and a 1:1 β-CD:PFOA mixture. The zebrafish were observed through six days post-fertilization and the LC50 values calculated. The LC50 values for the 1:1 mixture were on average 75% higher than the LC50 values for PFOA alone. These results suggest that β-CD has a protective biological effect against the toxicity of PFOA. Ongoing experiments are investigating the effects of different β-CD:PFOA ratios on zebrafish development.

Protective effects of β-cyclodextrin in biological systems contaminated with perfluoroalkyl substances

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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