alphacyklodextrin

Alpha-cyclodextrin (α-CD) is a cyclic oligosaccharide composed of six glucose units linked by α-(1,4) glycosidic bonds. It is one of the three common cyclodextrins, alongside beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and gamma-cyclodextrin (γ-CD), which differ in the number of glucose units. Alpha-cyclodextrin has a toroidal, or cone-like, structure with a hydrophobic interior cavity and a hydrophilic exterior. This unique structure allows it to form inclusion complexes with various guest molecules, encapsulating them within its cavity.

The formation of these inclusion complexes is driven by hydrophobic interactions, where nonpolar guest molecules are preferentially sequestered within the lipophilic core of the α-CD molecule, while the polar exterior interacts favorably with water. This property makes α-CD useful in a range of applications. It can be employed to enhance the solubility of poorly soluble compounds, stabilize sensitive substances against degradation, control the release of active ingredients, and mask undesirable tastes or odors.

Alpha-cyclodextrin is produced enzymatically from starch using cyclodextrin glucanotransferase. It is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in food and pharmaceutical applications by regulatory bodies in many countries. Its applications span across the food industry for flavor encapsulation and shelf-life extension, the pharmaceutical industry for drug delivery and formulation improvement, and in cosmetics for stabilizing active ingredients. Research continues to explore new applications for α-CD and its derivatives.