UV photopolymerized hydrogels with β-cyclodextrin moieties

Cyclodextrin embedded covalently crosslinked networks: synthesis and applications of hydrogels with nano-containers

Recent advancements in the synthesis of hydrogels containing cyclodextrin (CD) units within the gel network have been reviewed.

Free and copolymerized γ-cyclodextrins regulate the performance of dexamethasone-loaded dextran microspheres for bone regeneration

Incorporation of γ-cyclodextrins (γ-CD), as free entities or structural monomers (acrylamidomethyl-γ-cyclodextrin, γ-CD–NMA), into dextran-methacrylate (dextran-MA) photopolymerized spheres modifies the loading and release of an osteogenic agent.

Chemically cross-linked and grafted cyclodextrin hydrogels: from nanostructures to drug-eluting medical devices

The unique ability of cyclodextrins (CDs) to form inclusion complexes can be transmitted to polymeric networks in which CDs are chemically grafted or cross-linked. Combination of CDs and hydrogels in a single material leads to synergic properties: the hydrophilic network enhances biocompatibility and prevents dilution in the physiological medium increasing the stability of the inclusion complexes, while CDs finely tune the mechanical features and the stimuli-responsiveness and provide affinity-based regulation of drug loading and release. Therefore, CD-functionalized materials are opening new perspectives in pharmacotherapy, emerging as advanced delivery systems (DDS) for hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs to be administered via almost any route. Medical devices (catheters, prosthesis, vascular grafts, bone implants) can also benefit from surface grafting or thermofixation of CDs. The present review focuses on the approaches tested to synthesize nano- to macro-size covalently cross-linked CD networks: i) direct cross-linking through condensation with di- or multifunctional reagents, ii) copolymerization of CD derivatives with acrylic/vinyl monomers, and iii) grafting of CDs to preformed medical devices. Examples of the advantages of having the CDs chemically bound among themselves and to substrates are provided and their applicability in therapeutics discussed.

Cyclodextrin-based polymeric materials: synthesis, properties, and pharmaceutical/biomedical applications

This review describes the synthesis, properties, and, in particular, biomedical and pharmaceutical applications of an upcoming class of polymeric networks and assemblies based on cyclodextrins (CDs). CDs are cyclic oligosaccharides composed of alpha-1,4-coupled d-glucose units, which contain a hydrophobic internal cavity that can act as a host for various, generally lipophilic, guest molecules. Because of this unique physicochemical property, commonly referred to as inclusion complex formation, CDs have often been used to design polymeric materials, such as hydrogels and nanoparticles. Polymeric systems based on CDs exhibit unique characteristics in terms of mechanical properties, stimuli-responsiveness, and drug release characteristics. In this contribution, first, an outline is given of covalently cross-linked polymeric networks in which CD moieties were structurally incorporated to modulate the network strength as well as the complexation and release of low molecular weight drugs. Second, physically assembled polymeric systems are discussed, of which the formation is accomplished by inclusion complexes between polymer-conjugated CDs and various guest molecule-derivatized polymers. Due to their physical nature, these polymeric systems are sensitive to external stimuli, such as temperature changes, shear forces and the presence of competing CD-binding molecules, which can be exploited to use these systems as injectable, in situ gelling devices. In recent years, many interesting CD-containing polymeric systems have been described in literature. These systems have to be optimized and extensively evaluated in preclinical studies concerning their safety and efficacy, making future clinical applications of these materials in the biomedical and pharmaceutical field feasible.