Cyclodextrin

Cyclodextrins are a group of structurally related natural products formed during bacterial digestion of cellulose.

Uses

Cyclodextrins are able to form host-guest complexes with hydrophobic molecules given the unique nature imparted by their structure. As a result, these molecules have found a number of applications in a wide range of fields.
Cyclodextrins can solubilize hydrophobic drugs in pharmaceutical applications, and crosslink to form polymers used for drug delivery. One example is Sugammadex, a modified γ-cyclodextrin which reverses neuromuscular blockade by binding the drug rocuronium. Other than the above-mentioned pharmaceutical applications, cyclodextrins can be employed in environmental protection: these molecules can effectively immobilise inside their rings toxic compounds, like trichloroethane or heavy metals, or can form complexes with stable substances, like trichlorfon (an organophosphorusinsecticide) or sewage sludge, enhancing their decomposition.

Research studies in both humans and animals have shown that cyclodextrins and their derivatives can be used to improve the drug delivery system for almost any type of drug formulation from anti-cancer drugs to anti-viral drugs. In the pharmaceutical industry, cyclodextrins are used as complexing agents to increase the aqueous solubility of poorly soluble drugs and to increase their bioavailability and stability.
When some cancer drugs are combined with cyclodextrins, their bioavailability increases. If a drug’s bioavailability can be controlled in the bloodstream and acceptable drug levels are reached more effectively and precisely, it takes far less of a drug to produce cancer killing effects. Cyclodextrins can help make cancer treatment far less debilitating for a patient undergoing chemotherapy treatment — less of a toxic drug in a person’s system makes for less side effects

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