Cyclodextrin-caged cholesterol. The cholesterol finds itself in a hydrophobic cavity formed by two cyclodextrin molecules.
removal of cholesterol.
Ternary complexes, like (cyclodextrin)2-cholesterol, must form stepwise (a collision of three molecules in the correct orientation at the same time is improbable). Clearly the first step is formation of a cholesterol-cyclodextrin binary complex.
A is formed when cholesterol slips into the hydrophobic cavity of a beta-cyclodextrin molecule. Then a second cyclodextrin binds to the binary complex to form the final .
surface model off. Note the hydrogen bonds between the two cyclodextrin molecules. Would you expect to find cyclodextrin dimers in solution in the absence of cholesterol? Explain.