Utilization of cyclodextrins in industrial products and processes

Abstract

During the last ten years the production of cyclodextrins has increased from several hundred to several thousand tons, and besides α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins, methylated and hydroxypropylated cyclodextrins are also produced on an industrial scale. For other purposes (chromatography, catalysis, reagents, diagnostics, specific drug formulations,etc.), about a hundred different cyclodextrin derivatives and complexes are commercially available. A dozen cyclodextrin-containing drugs have already been approved and marketed. Around 130–140 new cyclodextrin-related papers, patents (applications) and conference abstracts are published each month. The largest number of publications deals with actual or mainly potential pharmaceutical applications of cyclodextrins, but the largest amount of them is used in foods, cosmetics and toiletry products. A similar intense development is expected for the next decade.