beta-cyclodextrin

Beta-cyclodextrin is a cyclic oligosaccharide composed of seven D-glucopyranose units linked by alpha-1,4-glycosidic bonds. It is characterized by a truncated cone-shaped structure with a hydrophobic interior cavity and a hydrophilic exterior. This unique structure allows it to form non-covalent inclusion complexes with a wide variety of hydrophobic molecules, thereby improving their aqueous solubility, chemical stability, and bioavailability. While primarily utilized as a pharmaceutical excipient and food additive, beta-cyclodextrin and its derivatives are also explored for therapeutic roles, notably in the treatment of lipid storage disorders like Niemann-Pick disease type C, where they facilitate the egress of cholesterol from lysosomes. In research settings, it is frequently employed to develop targeted drug delivery systems, such as complexes designed to bypass efflux transporters in multidrug-resistant cancer cells.

Brand names

BetadexKleptoseCavamax W7

Other names

β-cyclodextrinCycloheptaamylosebeta-CDβ-CD