Applications of steroid drugs entrapped in cyclodextrins

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Steroids are abundant in living organisms and are responsible for various biological functions. They are good candidates for inclusion complexes formation with...     

Investigation of the Aerobic Biodegradability of Several Types of Cyclodextrins in a Laboratory-Controlled Composting Test

The biodegradation of several types of cyclodextrins (CDs) under laboratory-controlled composting conditions was investigated. CDs are used in a broad range of applications in food, pharmaceutical, medical, chemical, and textile industries because of their specific chemical characteristics related to their hydrophobic interior and hydrophilic exterior. The three naturally occurring cyclodextrins -CD, -CD, and -CD proved to be completely and readily biodegradable. Chemical modification of these basic compounds can have a major impact on the biodegradation rate and final biodegradation percentage. Fully acetylated -CD and -CD were found to be nonbiodegradable during 45 days of composting. Reducing the degree of acetylation had a positive effect on the biodegradation. Complete biodegradation was obtained for partially acetylated -CD with a degree of substitution (DS) of 7. The methylation (DS = 13) of -CD resulted in an undegradable compound during the 47 days composting, while (2-hydroxy)propyl--CD reached a plateau in biodegradation at a percentage of 20%. The incorporation of the antimicrobial agents imazalil and allyl-isothiocyanate into -CD had no negative impact on biodegradation, which makes these antimicrobial agents/CD complexes suitable for incorporation into biodegradable active packaging.     

Biodegradation of cyclodextrins in soil

Cyclodextrins, especially random methylated betaCD (RAMEB) and hydroxypropyl betaCD (HPbetaCD), are becoming common enhancing additives in the bioremediation of soils formerly contaminated by hydrocarbons and/or other poorly bioavailable organic pollutants. Therefore, their degradation in the soil, particularly the most persistent RAMEB, has been of great concern. Like oil contaminants, these additives should be biodegradable via an environmentally safe technology. Hence, in this paper, the biodegradability of eight different cyclodextrins (CDs) in four different soils was examined under various treatment conditions in laboratory and pilot scale field experiments. This paper is the first report on the potential biological fate of CDs studied under a large variety of environmental conditions and in different soil ecosystems. Data on the potential relationship between CD biodegradation and the biological removal of hydrocarbons in the CD-amended contaminated soils are also given. All CDs were found to be more or less biodegradable; even the most persistent RAMEB was depleted from soils under favourable conditions. In the field experiments, the depletion of RAMEB to about 40% of its initial level was observed for a period of 2 years in hydrocarbon-contaminated soils of high organic matter and cell concentration.     

Cyclodextrins,from molecules to applications

Cyclodextrins are among the most remarkable macrocyclic molecules with significant theoretical and practical impacts in chemistry and biology. Cyclodextrins belong to the family of cage molecules due to their structure, which is composed of a hydrophobic cavity that can encapsulate other molecules. Indeed, the most characteristic feature of these compounds is their ability to form inclusion complexes with various molecules through host–guest interactions. This is at the origin of many applications. It is well known and widely reported in the literature that cyclodextrins and their derivatives have a wide variety of practical applications including pharmacy, medicine, foods, cosmetics, toiletries, catalysis, chromatography, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and textile industry. Cyclodextrins are also the object of numerous fundamental studies. In this review, we chose to highlight selected works on cyclodextrins published over the last 5 years by different research groups. The main objective is to summarize some of the recent developments related to the applications of cyclodextrins.     

Removal of emerging contaminants from wastewater using advanced treatments. A review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The rise of emerging contaminants in waters challenges the scientific community and water treatment stakeholders to design remediation techniques that are simple,...     

Cyclodextrin-enabled green environmental biotechnologies

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Most of the organic compounds contaminating the environment can form inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins resulting in enhanced solubility (a...