Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (647 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A homologous group of cyclic glucans consisting of alpha-1,4 bound glucose units obtained by the action of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase on starch or similar substrates. The enzyme is produced by certain species of Bacillus. Cyclodextrins form inclusion complexes with a wide variety of substances.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Cyclodextrin; Cycloamylose; Cyclomaltooligosaccharides; Cyclodextrin Derivatives; Derivatives, Cyclodextrin.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Macrocyclic Compounds; Dextrins
- Narrower topics
- alpha-Cyclodextrins; beta-Cyclodextrins; gamma-Cyclodextrins
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 18,933 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Cyclodextrins” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 4,731 of them (25.0%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 7,535 records.
Reviews account for 1,088 records (5.7%) and meta-analyses for 48. Randomized controlled trials number 337 (1.8%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 1,527 |
| 2000-2009 | 5,140 |
| 2010-2019 | 7,535 |
| 2020 onward | 4,731 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,088 | 5.7% |
| Meta-analyses | 48 | 0.3% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 337 | 1.8% |
Method: PubMed query "Cyclodextrins"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
Supramolecular assembly activated single-molecule phosphorescence resonance energy transfer for near-infrared targeted cell imaging [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Pure organic phosphorescence resonance energy transfer is a research hotspot.
- Closing excerpt
- Uncommonly, the secondary assembly of β-cyclodextrin modified hyaluronic acid and ternary assembly activates a single intramolecular phosphorescence resonance energy transfer process derived from phenyl pyridines unit to methoxy-tetraphenylethylene function group, enabling a near-infrared delayed fluorescence at 700 nm, which ultimately applied to mitochondrial targeted imaging for cancer cells.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (151 words)
Pure organic phosphorescence resonance energy transfer is a research hotspot. Herein, a single-molecule phosphorescence resonance energy transfer system with a large Stokes shift of 367 nm and near-infrared emission is constructed by guest molecule alkyl-bridged methoxy-tetraphenylethylene-phenylpyridines derivative, cucurbit[n]uril (n = 7, 8) and β-cyclodextrin modified hyaluronic acid. The high binding affinity of cucurbituril to guest molecules in various stoichiometric ratios not only regulates the topological morphology of supramolecular assembly but also induces different phosphorescence emissions. Varying from the spherical nanoparticles and nanorods for binary assemblies, three-dimensional nanoplate is obtained by the ternary co-assembly of guest with cucurbit[7]uril/cucurbit[8]uril, accompanying enhanced phosphorescence at 540 nm. Uncommonly, the secondary assembly of β-cyclodextrin modified hyaluronic acid and ternary assembly activates a single intramolecular phosphorescence resonance energy transfer process derived from phenyl pyridines unit to methoxy-tetraphenylethylene function group, enabling a near-infrared delayed fluorescence at 700 nm, which ultimately applied to mitochondrial targeted imaging for cancer cells.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 38839843 · DOI · PMC11153566
Molecular Mind Games: The Medicinal Action of Cyclodextrins in Neurodegenerative Diseases [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Cyclodextrins are often used as molecular carriers for small active ingredients in medicine.
- Closing excerpt
- HPβCD plays a complex role in each of these ailments, going beyond the mere sequestering of cholesterol molecules and involving an overall regulation of protein expression that helps restore the normal functioning of the organism.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (143 words)
Cyclodextrins are often used as molecular carriers for small active ingredients in medicine. Recently, the intrinsic medicinal activity of some of these compounds has been under investigation, mainly related to their ability to interfere with cholesterol and, therefore, prevent and treat cholesterol-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease and neuronal diseases arising from altered cholesterol and lipid metabolism. One of the most promising compounds within the cyclodextrin family is 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD), owing to its superior biocompatibility profile. This work presents the most recent advances in the research and clinical use of HPβCD against Niemann-Pick disease, a congenital condition involving cholesterol accumulation inside lysosomes in brain cells, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. HPβCD plays a complex role in each of these ailments, going beyond the mere sequestering of cholesterol molecules and involving an overall regulation of protein expression that helps restore the normal functioning of the organism.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 37189413 · DOI · PMC10136110
Voriconazole Eye Drops: Enhanced Solubility and Stability through Ternary Voriconazole/Sulfobutyl Ether β-Cyclodextrin/Polyvinyl Alcohol Complexes [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Voriconazole (VCZ) is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent used to treat ocular fungal keratitis.
- Closing excerpt
- 5 months was observed for the extemporaneous Vfend® eye drops.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (200 words)
Voriconazole (VCZ) is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent used to treat ocular fungal keratitis. However, VCZ has low aqueous solubility and chemical instability in aqueous solutions. This study aimed to develop VCZ eye drop formulations using cyclodextrin (CD) and water-soluble polymers, forming CD complex aggregates to improve the aqueous solubility and chemical stability of VCZ. The VCZ solubility was greatly enhanced using sulfobutyl ether β-cyclodextrin (SBEβCD). The addition of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) showed a synergistic effect on VCZ/SBEβCD solubilization and a stabilization effect on the VCZ/SBEβCD complex. The formation of binary VCZ/SBEβCD and ternary VCZ/SBEβCD/PVA complexes was confirmed by spectroscopic techniques and in silico studies. The 0.5% w/v VCZ eye drop formulations were developed consisting of 6% w/v SBEβCD and different types and concentrations of PVA. The VCZ/SBEβCD systems containing high-molecular-weight PVA prepared under freeze-thaw conditions (PVA-H hydrogel) provided high mucoadhesion, sustained release, good ex vivo permeability through the porcine cornea and no sign of irritation. Additionally, PVA-H hydrogel was effective against the filamentous fungi tested. The stability study revealed that our VCZ eye drops provide a shelf-life of more than 2.5 years at room temperature, while a shelf-life of only 3.5 months was observed for the extemporaneous Vfend® eye drops.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 36768671 · DOI · PMC9917179
Metronidazole-Loaded Cyclodextrin Nanogels for Antibacterial Therapy and Microbiota Regulation in Periodontitis [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- In this study, a methacrylamide β-cyclodextrin-based nanogel (MACD nGel) is developed to load the antimicrobial drug Metronidazole (MNZ) for topical delivery for the treatment of periodontitis.
- Closing excerpt
- The study demonstrates that cyclodextrin nanogel (nGel) loaded with metronidazole not only provides an efficient drug delivery route but also has potential clinical applications and offers a novel strategy for the local treatment of periodontitis.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (153 words)
In this study, a methacrylamide β-cyclodextrin-based nanogel (MACD nGel) is developed to load the antimicrobial drug Metronidazole (MNZ) for topical delivery for the treatment of periodontitis. The developed MACD nGel is synthesized by free radical polymerization and successfully loaded with MNZ. The nGel/MNZ system is shown to be effective against the main causative organisms of periodontitis, Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), and shows significant bacteriostatic effects and good cytocompatibility. In animal studies, the topical application of nGel/MNZ significantly attenuates the inflammatory response in periodontitis, reduces the expression of key inflammatory factors interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and improves the balance of the microbial composition of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). The study demonstrates that cyclodextrin nanogel (nGel) loaded with metronidazole not only provides an efficient drug delivery route but also has potential clinical applications and offers a novel strategy for the local treatment of periodontitis.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41147748 · DOI · PMC12973357
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Review: a history of cyclodextrins [5]
- Research article Cyclodextrin-based supramolecular systems for drug delivery: recent progress and future perspective [6]
- Research article Cyclodextrins [7]
- Research article Cyclodextrins: structure, physicochemical properties and pharmaceutical applications [8]
- Research article Solubility of Cyclodextrins and Drug/Cyclodextrin Complexes [9]
- Research article Efficacy and safety of sugammadex versus neostigmine in reversing neuromuscular blockade in adults [10]
References
- Zhou X, Bai X, Shang F, Zhang HY, Wang LH, Xu X, et al.. Supramolecular assembly activated single-molecule phosphorescence resonance energy transfer for near-infrared targeted cell imaging. . 2024. PMID 38839843 · DOI · PMC11153566
- Braga SS. Molecular Mind Games: The Medicinal Action of Cyclodextrins in Neurodegenerative Diseases. . 2023. PMID 37189413 · DOI · PMC10136110
- Soe HMSH, Kerdpol K, Rungrotmongkol T, Pruksakorn P, Autthateinchai R, Wet-Osot S, et al.. Voriconazole Eye Drops: Enhanced Solubility and Stability through Ternary Voriconazole/Sulfobutyl Ether β-Cyclodextrin/Polyvinyl Alcohol Complexes. . 2023. PMID 36768671 · DOI · PMC9917179
- Ji Y, Zhang R, Xu D, van der Wel PCA, Lasorsa A, Li G, et al.. Metronidazole-Loaded Cyclodextrin Nanogels for Antibacterial Therapy and Microbiota Regulation in Periodontitis. . 2026. PMID 41147748 · DOI · PMC12973357
- Crini G. Review: a history of cyclodextrins. Chem Rev. 2014. PMID 25247843 · DOI
- Zhang J, Ma PX. Cyclodextrin-based supramolecular systems for drug delivery: recent progress and future perspective. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2013. PMID 23673149 · DOI · PMC3885994
- Kurkov SV, Loftsson T. Cyclodextrins. Int J Pharm. 2013. PMID 22771733 · DOI
- Jansook P, Ogawa N, Loftsson T. Cyclodextrins: structure, physicochemical properties and pharmaceutical applications. Int J Pharm. 2018. PMID 29138045 · DOI
- Saokham P, Muankaew C, Jansook P, Loftsson T. Solubility of Cyclodextrins and Drug/Cyclodextrin Complexes. Molecules. 2018. PMID 29751694 · DOI · PMC6099580
- Hristovska AM, Duch P, Allingstrup M, Afshari A. Efficacy and safety of sugammadex versus neostigmine in reversing neuromuscular blockade in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017. PMID 28806470 · DOI · PMC6483345
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.