Recent advances and future directions in amphiphilic cyclodextrin nanoparticles

Cyclodextrins are known to be promising excipients in the pharmaceutical industry, with their ability to include hydrophobic guest molecules masking the physicochemical properties of the guest, such as poor water solubility, stability problems and undesired side effects. These enabling excipients, which are produced on a large scale and incorporated into various marketed products worldwide, are now modified to render amphiphilic properties that enable them to be used to prepare nanoparticles. Amphiphilic cyclodextrins have the ability to form nanoparticles without the presence of a surfactant by different preparation techniques that are discussed in this review. Classification and physicochemical properties of these interesting molecules as well as the efficacy and safety of nanoparticles prepared from different amphiphilic cyclodextrins are discussed in light of the current literature work with in vitro and in vivo findings. Cyclodextrin nanoparticles of different nature effectively carry drugs or molecules with bioavailability problems arising from poor aqueous solubility, stability under physiological conditions or side effects associated with the molecule itself or excipients used in the formulation of these problems drugs. In conclusion, amphiphilic cyclodextrins emerge as promising alternatives for tumor drug delivery and passive and active targeting with non-toxic, non-hemolytic properties as injectable, nanosized carriers.