Cyclodextrin-Based Polymer Systems for Biomedical Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Being widely recognized, cyclodextrins are oligosaccharides that have a toroidal structure with a hydrophobic internal cavity. This feature allows them to form inclusion complexes with hydrophobic guest molecules. As such, cyclodextrins can improve the solubility and stability of poorly water-soluble compounds and increase the bioavailability of some drugs, which is particularly valuable for pharmaceutical and biomedical application. Many studies have demonstrated the ability of cyclodextrins to cooperate with each other when they are close. In fact, systems in which cyclodextrins have limited mobility can provide diffusion-controlled kinetics and, in particular, affinity release kinetics. This makes cyclodextrins very interesting substances, especially for the development of new functional supramolecular systems for the release of drugs and the development of medical devices with advanced performance. Cyclodextrins are often grafted onto linear, branched, cationic, anionic polymers and copolymers via the hydroxyl group on the truncated cone structure, which allows them to be functionalized in the most suitable way for bonding to the polymer chain. The combination of these two components can lead to ideal systems for different types of biomedical applications such as drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, theranostic and antimicrobial applications.

This Special Issue is dedicated to the exploration and development of advanced cyclodextrin–polymer materials, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration between medicine, materials science and biomedical technology.

Dr. Antonella Piozzi
Dr. Iolanda Francolini
Guest Editors

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• cyclodextrins
• polymers
• grafting
• drug delivery
• hydrophobic drugs
• wound healing
• tissue engineering
• antimicrobial systems
• supramolecular systems