title: The Potential of Cyclodextrins as Novel Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients: A Short Overview.
abstract: Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligosaccharides of natural origin that were discovered more than 100 years ago. The peculiar cone-like conformation of the sugar ring, expressing a lipophilic cavity and a hydrophilic external surface, allows these substances to spontaneously complex poorly soluble compounds in an aqueous environment. For more than 50 years, these substances have found applicability in the pharmaceutical and food industries as solubilizing agents for poorly soluble chemical entities. Nowadays, several research groups all over the world are investigating their potential as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for the treatment of several illnesses (e.g., hypercholesterolemia, cancer, Niemann-Pick Type C disease). The aim of this review is to briefly retrace cyclodextrins' legacy as complexing agents and describe the current and future prospects of this class of chemical entities in pharmaceutics as new APIs.
authors.affiliation: Drug Transport and Delivery Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway, 9019 Tromsø, Norway. massimiliano.p.cagno@uit.no.
authors.forename: Massimiliano Pio
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: di Cagno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052556:Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003505:Cyclodextrins; D005079:Excipients; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents
keywords: Niemann-Pick Type C disease treatment; cyclodextrins; cytotoxic activity; hypocholesterolemic agents; inclusion complexes; solubilizing agents