Enhanced cellular uptake and osteogenic differentiation efficiency of melatonin by inclusion complexation with 2-hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin.

Melatonin (MLT), a hormone secreted from the pineal gland, is recognized as a potential candidate for stimulation of bone regeneration. However, because of its hydrophobicity, the administration of MLT to stimulate bone regeneration is difficult. In this study, an inclusion complex of MLT with 2-hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) was prepared to improve the water solubility, and the osteogenic differentiation ability of the inclusion complex was investigated in MC3T3-E1 cells. The formation of HP-β-CD/MLT inclusion complex was confirmed by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The water solubility of MLT increased linearly upon addition of HP-β-CD because of the formation of the inclusion complex. Additionally, treatment of the cells with HP-β-CD/MLT inclusion complex showed higher uptake amount of MLT than that treated with free MLT. In addition, treatment of MC3T3-E1 cells with HP-β-CD/MLT inclusion complex increased alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralized matrix deposition, compared to that in free MLT-treated and untreated cells. Furthermore, cells treated with HP-β-CD/MLT inclusion complex exhibited higher expression levels of osteogenic differentiation genes than those in the untreated and free MLT-treated cells. Accordingly, these results suggested that inclusion complexation of MLT with HP-β-CD would be a potential formulation for bone regeneration because of its improved solubility and enhanced osteogenic differentiation efficiency.