Cyclodextrins in Formulation Development: Complexation and Stability Enhance

Cyclodextrins (CDs), a class of cyclic oligosaccharides, have gained recognition as versatile excipients within the pharmaceutical sciences due to their distinctive capacity to form inclusion complexes with a diverse array of drug molecules. This review provides a thorough examination of the various roles that CDs play in drug delivery systems, with a particular emphasis on their physicochemical properties, mechanisms of complexation, and structural variants, which include native, chemically modified, and polymeric forms. The enhancement of solubility, stability, and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs through CD inclusion complexes is a focal point, alongside their application in both traditional and advanced drug delivery platforms, such as nanosponges, liposomes, and supramolecular systems. Furthermore, the article discusses several FDA-approved formulations that utilize CDs, including Vfend®, Geodon®, and Sporanox®, thereby highlighting their clinical significance and therapeutic advantages. Despite their potential, challenges such as inconsistent complexation efficiency, cost considerations, toxicity associated with certain derivatives, and regulatory obstacles hinder their wider application. The future prospects for CDs are centered on the development of stimuli-responsive delivery systems, gene delivery vectors, and multifunctional nanocarriers, thereby positioning CDs not merely as passive carriers but also as active therapeutic agents. This review serves as a contemporary reference on recent advancements, commercial significance, limitations, and future trajectories in CD-based drug delivery systems, with implications for both industrial applications and translational research.