The ever-increasing number of publications on cyclodextrins (CDs) and their market growth clearly demonstrate the enduring interest in these macrocycles discovered in 1891. It seems that these supramolecules still haven’t revealed all of their secrets and continue to arouse the curiosity of researchers in both the fundamental and applied sciences.

In fact, the current interest goes far beyond the simple use of CDs as a delivery system for therapeutic agents. Current research interests focus also on the intrinsic activity of CDs as well as their derivatives and polymers. One of the major discoveries in this area is the finding that the solubilizer HP-β-CD is effective against Niemann-Pick type C disease (NPC).

The exploration of the potential of inclusion complexation is not limited to the biomedical field. CDs are renewable and biodegradable materials that enable green and environmental biotechnologies for all applications. The ability of CDs to act as solubilizers, stabilizers, permeation enhancers, cryoprotectors, sequestrants of toxic compounds, taste and odors maskers, coating materials of solid surfaces, chiral receptors has been successfully explored in food, packaging, cosmetics, textiles, separation processes, environmental remediation, extraction, and catalysis.

Their three-dimensional structure makes them exceptional building blocks for the design of innovative supramolecular architectures due to the differential reactivity of their alcohol functions. As a result, these molecular hosts can be specifically linked either covalently or non-covalently to a wide variety of ligands. They are involved in the construction of interlocked molecules (rotaxanes and catenanes), supramolecular polymers, artificial enzymes, hydrogels, metal-organic frameworks, supramolecular solvents, fibers, nanotubes, nanoparticles, and so on

CDs have made significant contributions to nearly every scientific field requiring high performance with minimal environmental impact, yet they never cease to amaze us.