Free volumes studies in Thymoquinone and Carvone β-cyclodextrin nanoparticles by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy

Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy is used to study free volume in β-cyclodextrin with the encapsulation of thymoquinone and S-carvone, in samples covering the guest to host fraction range from 1:0.1 to 1:1. The results clearly indicate the presence of long lifetime components related to Ps-formation. Although the behavior of the two guests is different, in both cases the results indicate the formation of 1:1 cyclodextrin inclusion compounds. Data show that the addition of carvone to β-cyclodextrin results in a decrease of the o-Ps lifetime corresponding to a reduction of the average radius of cavities from 2.41 Å to 2.29 Å, whereas the addition of thymoquine decreases the radius from 2.57 Å to 2.35 Å. In turn, the intensity varied from 20.55 to 19.20% and from 20.83 to 0.41%, respectively.