Cyclodextrin-based bioactive supramolecular assemblies.

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are a class of cyclic oligosaccharides with six to eight D-glucose units linked by alpha-1,4-glucose bonds, and their capability of forming stable complexes with various organic/inorganic/biological molecules and ions makes them attractive as building blocks for the construction of nano-scale supramolecular systems. This tutorial review deals with representative contributions in the construction and the structural characteristics of CD-based supramolecular assemblies as well as their interactions with biologically important substrates. This review is addressed to students and researchers interested in supramolecular chemistry, biochemistry and nanotechnology.