Macrocycle encapsulation triggered supramolecular pKa shift: A fluorescence indicator for detecting octreotide in aqueous solution

Supramolecular p K a shifts, have attracted much attention in catalytic and biomimetic studies because of their excellent property to modify the acidity or basicity of the substrate in aqueous media by host-guest inclusion. Here, Fluorescence indicator displacement based on cucurbit[8]uril encapsulation of the dye acridine leads to the recognition of the peptide drug octreotide in aqueous solution via distinctive pH signals was expolited. This is thought to be a result of competitive host-guest interactions involving a supramolecular p K a shift.