Recent advances in host–guest self‐assembled cyclodextrin carriers: Implications for responsive drug delivery and biomedical engineering

This Review is an overview of the unique characteristics of cyclodextrin in forming an inclusion complex via host guest noncovalent interactions. The modification of cyclodextrin advances its application as a pharmaceutical solubilizer, fabrication of functional molecular machines such as polyrotaxane, polypseudorotaxane, and polycatenanes and grafting of cyclodextrin with different linear, branched chain polymers. The different stimuli‐based supramolecular assemblies involving cyclodextrin as a key mediator with linked triggering responses on payload release is highlighted. In addition, the applications of cyclodextrin in diagnostic imaging and medical devices is briefly demonstrated. Cyclodextrin is a relatively low cost, biocompatible, biodegradable, and highly explored material with low toxicity for drug formulation, drug delivery, and wide varieties of other biomedical applications such as those in medical devices fabrication, biosensor, tissue engineering, and bio‐imaging. The toxicological profile of cyclodextrin is well established and safe for human consumption in food and medicine.J.W., N.G.K., and S.G. contributed equally to this work. This project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska‐Curie grant agreement No 713690. This publication was also emanated from research conducted with the financial support of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and is co‐funded under the European Regional Development Fund under Grant Number 13/RC/2073. S.G. would like to thank India's Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers for NIPER Ph.D. fellowship. The authors would also like to thank Maciej Doczyk for his help with the graphic illustrations and Anthony Sloan (Technical Writer‐English) for his careful help in finalizing the manuscript.peer-reviewe