Cyclodextrins, Explained: Structure, Inclusion Mechanism, Derivatization Types, and a Quick Selection Guide (with a 5-Category Checklist)

In many experiments, the same challenge comes up again and again: the target molecule “works, but won’t dissolve.” Fat-soluble vitamins, hormones, hydrophobic small-molecule drugs, aromatic dyes, and similar compounds often show poor solubility in aqueous media (buffers, culture media). This can lead to unstable dosing, poor reproducibility, and even the need for high proportions of organic co-solvents that may compromise cell-based or protein systems.

Cyclodextrins are a broadly applicable tool for addressing this problem. Acting as molecular containers, they can temporarily “host” hydrophobic guest molecules, significantly improving their apparent solubility and ease of handling in water-based systems.

What Are Cyclodextrins? A Molecular Host with a Hydrophilic Exterior and a Relatively Hydrophobic Cavity

Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides composed of glucose units linked head-to-tail. Their exterior is rich in hydroxyl groups and is overall hydrophilic, while the interior forms a relatively hydrophobic cavity that can accommodate hydrophobic guest molecules (or hydrophobic moieties of larger guests). Structurally, cyclodextrins adopt a truncated-cone geometry: the narrower rim presents primary hydroxyl groups (C6–OH), whereas the wider rim presents secondary hydroxyl groups (C2/C3–OH). As a result, the hydrogen-bonding and electrostatic environments near the two “openings” are not identical. The three most common native cyclodextrins are:

• α-Cyclodextrin (α-CD): 6 glucose units
• β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD): 7 glucose units
• γ-Cyclodextrin (γ-CD): 8 glucose units

Cavity size increases in the order α < β < γ, which largely determines how well a given guest molecule “fits.”

The cavity is relatively hydrophobic and primarily accommodates hydrophobic segments of the guest. However, polar sites such as glycosidic oxygens are also present, so binding typically reflects a combination of the hydrophobic effect, van der Waals interactions, and desolvation.

Inclusion Principle: Not a “Reaction Product,” but Reversible Equilibrium Complexation

Cyclodextrins typically form inclusion complexes with guest molecules. The core mechanism can be understood as follows:

• The cyclodextrin cavity initially contains constrained, ordered water molecules.
• When a hydrophobic guest enters the cavity, it displaces these water molecules.
• The system experiences a net decrease in Gibbs free energy (with contributions from the hydrophobic effect, van der Waals interactions, and hydrogen bonding at the cyclodextrin rims, among others).
• A reversible inclusion equilibrium is therefore established.

Key point: inclusion is an equilibrium process rather than a permanent “lock.” Dilution, competing guests, changes in solvent composition, and temperature shifts can all promote dissociation and release of the guest. In addition, stoichiometry is not always 1:1; 1:2 or 2:1 complexes may also form, depending on molecular shape and interaction mode.

Why “Modified Cyclodextrins” Are More Commonly Used in Practice

Among native cyclodextrins, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in particular has relatively low water solubility (water solubility at 25 °C: α-CD ≈ 14.5, β-CD ≈ 1.85, γ-CD ≈ 23.2 g/100 mL; β is the lowest). Many applications (cell culture, parenteral formulations, protein-based systems) also require the carrier itself to be formulated at higher aqueous concentrations. As a result, a wide range of water-soluble, modified cyclodextrins has been developed. Common approaches include:

1) Improving water solubility and biocompatibility: hydroxypropylation, carboxymethylation, sulfobutylation, etc.

• Hydroxypropyl cyclodextrins (HP-CD): widely used for solubilization, cell-based assays, and general research formulations
• Sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin sodium salt (SBE-β-CD): more formulation-/excipient-oriented; high water solubility and excellent system compatibility
• Carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin (and its salts), as well as sulfated/succinylated derivatives: introduce anionic or carboxyl functionalities to improve solubility and tune interaction profiles

Note: the extent of modification—especially the degree of substitution (DS)—and the molecular-weight distribution (Mw/Mn) can affect solubility, inclusion (binding) constants, and lot-to-lot consistency. For quantitative experiments or formulation development, these parameters should be monitored.

2) Enhancing hydrophobic interactions or tuning selectivity: methylation, dimethylation, ethylation, alkylation, etc.

These derivatives make the cavity environment more “hydrophobic,” which may strengthen inclusion for certain guests and can also alter interactions with membranes, proteins, and lipids.

Important biological caution:

Partially methylated β-CD (commonly used in membrane studies) can substantially extract cholesterol from cell membranes, thereby altering membrane fluidity, receptor and ion-channel function, and downstream signaling. For cell-based experiments, be sure to:

• include a “cyclodextrin-only” vehicle control
• perform concentration and time-course gradients
• monitor cell viability and non-specific changes in membrane-related phenotypes

How to Choose: A Two-Step Approach Based on “Guest Size + Application Constraints”

Step 1: Check the “fit”—match cavity size

• α-CD: suitable for smaller molecules or linear hydrophobic segments
• β-CD: often matches many common hydrophobic small molecules (aromatic rings, steroidal moieties, etc.), and is therefore the most widely used in research
• γ-CD: larger cavity, better suited to bulkier guests or more complex hydrophobic motifs

Practical tip: better fit does not mean “bigger is always better.” An oversized cavity can lead to less stable binding.

Step 2: Consider the system—do you need solubility, cell compatibility, or reactive functionality?

• Solubilization / cell culture / biological systems: prioritize highly water-soluble derivatives such as HP-CD, SBE-β-CD, and CM-CD, which can reduce the need for organic co-solvents
• Membrane cholesterol studies or highly hydrophobic guests: methylated/dimethylated, more hydrophobic β-CD derivatives may be useful (but require strict controls)
• Materials, conjugation, or functionalization: choose derivatives bearing reactive handles

From “Solubilization” to “Construction”: Reactive, Functionalized Cyclodextrins

In supramolecular chemistry, materials science, bioconjugation, and drug delivery, cyclodextrins are often used as modular host–guest building blocks that can be assembled into larger systems. For this reason, cyclodextrin derivatives bearing reactive handles are commonly employed, for example:

• Azido (–N₃) cyclodextrins: suitable for click chemistry (azide–alkyne cycloaddition)
• Thiol (–SH) cyclodextrins: suitable for conjugation such as thiol–maleimide coupling, as well as surface modification
• Amino (–NH₂) cyclodextrins: suitable for coupling via amide formation, reactions with isocyanates, and activated esters, among others
• Tosyl (tosylate, Ts) derivatives: often used as synthetic intermediates with an excellent leaving group, enabling further substitution
• Halogenated derivatives (e.g., bromo-): convenient for introducing additional functional groups via nucleophilic substitution
• Protected/acylated derivatives: used for site-selective control in organic synthesis routes

The value of these “functionalized cyclodextrins” is that you are not merely encapsulating a guest to increase solubility—you are incorporating cyclodextrins as an integral part of the material (e.g., gels, nanocarriers, surface coatings, controlled-release systems).

If your goal is conjugation, surface modification, or materials construction, prioritize functionalized cyclodextrins bearing reactive handles (the table below categorizes them by handle type).

More “Engineering-Oriented” Formats: Polymeric Cyclodextrins and Pre-Formed Inclusion Complexes

In addition to monomeric cyclodextrin derivatives, two application-oriented formats are also commonly used:

1. Water-soluble polymeric cyclodextrins

When multiple cyclodextrin units are linked on a single backbone, they often provide:

• stronger solubilization / higher drug-loading capacity (multi-site inclusion)
• improved system stability and more sustained performance
• better suitability for delivery and materials construction

2. Pre-formed drug–cyclodextrin inclusion complexes (or composites)

Pre-forming a complex from a “poorly soluble drug + cyclodextrin” can markedly improve formulation handling and reproducibility. This approach is particularly useful for teaching labs, screening workflows, and research settings that require rapid, consistent setup.

Common Issues in Experiments and Formulations: Key Determinants of Reproducibility

1. Cyclodextrins improve “apparent solubility”

• What actually dissolves is the inclusion complex, not that the guest molecule has been “converted into a hydrophilic compound.” Dilution or competition can release the guest; therefore, dosing strategy and dilution factors can affect the final effective concentration.

2. Binding (inclusion) constants are not fixed

• Temperature, pH, ionic strength, co-solvents, and the presence of proteins can shift the equilibrium, leading to substantial differences under different experimental conditions.

Note: Native cyclodextrins (α/β/γ) typically do not ionize with pH. pH effects often arise from changes in the guest’s ionization state, as well as electrostatic interactions between charged derivatives (e.g., SBE-β-CD, sulfated CDs) and the guest.

3. “Cell-compatible” does not mean “no cellular effects”

• Methylated/hydrophobically modified β-CDs can strongly affect cholesterol and membrane structure. Even highly water-soluble derivatives should be evaluated using blank controls and cytotoxicity testing.

Note: In parenteral (injectable) formulations, HP-β-CD and SBE-β-CD are among the most commonly used and widely discussed. Regulatory and review sources often caution that native α-CD and β-CD are not suitable for high-dose parenteral use (related to solubility/safety considerations).

4. Pay attention to DS and Mw/Mn

• Modified cyclodextrins are typically distributions rather than a single, well-defined chemical entity. Differences in degree of substitution (DS) and molecular-weight characteristics (Mw/Mn) can affect inclusion performance, solubility, and lot-to-lot consistency.

One-Sentence Selection Summary

1. Start with α/β/γ: choose by guest size and cavity fit

2. For aqueous solubilization/cell systems: prioritize highly water-soluble derivatives (e.g., HP, SBE, CM)

3. For membrane cholesterol / strongly hydrophobic systems: methylated derivatives may be used, but require strict controls and evaluation

4. For materials and conjugation: choose functionalized derivatives with reactive handles (azido/thiol/amino/tosyl/halogenated, etc.)

5. For easier handling and better stability: consider polymeric cyclodextrins or pre-formed inclusion complexes

Cyclodextrin Type Quick-Reference Checklist (by Structure and Use)

Below, common cyclodextrins are organized into five categories—basic types, high-solubility solubilizers, hydrophobically modified types, reactive/functionalized types, and application/complex systems—to help you quickly identify suitable structures for your experimental scenario.

To support basic selection starting from cavity-size matching, we first summarize native α/β/γ cyclodextrins and their hydrates (including cell-culture grades and ready-to-use solutions).

Table 1 | Basic Types: Native Cyclodextrins (α/β/γ) and Hydrates

Subcategory	Aladdin Cat. No.	Name	CAS No.	Specification / Purity	Key Features / Function
β-CD hydrate	B665398	beta-Cyclodextrin hydrate	68168-23-0	≥98%	Native β-CD hydrate; general inclusion/solubilization carrier
α-CD hydrate	C770573	α-Cyclodextrin hydrate	51211-51-9	≥98%	Native α-CD hydrate; smaller cavity for smaller guest inclusion
Native α-CD (cell culture grade)	C106778	α-Cyclodextrin	10016-20-3	For cell culture, ≥98%	Basic inclusion carrier; specification suitable for cell systems
Native α-CD (HPLC)	C106777	α-Cyclodextrin	10016-20-3	≥98% (HPLC)	High-purity α-CD; analytical/research use
Native α-CD (HPLC, source specified)	C431110	α-Cyclodextrin	10016-20-3	≥98% cyclodextrin basis (HPLC), Produced by Wacker Chemie AG, Burghausen, Germany, Life Science	Same as above; source/quality-system specified
Native α-CD (HPLC, higher purity)	C431109	α-Cyclodextrin	10016-20-3	≥99% (HPLC), produced by Wacker Chemie AG, Burghausen, Germany	Same as above; higher purity
Native β-CD (cell culture grade)	C118530	β-Cyclodextrin	7585-39-9	For cell culture, ≥98%	One of the most commonly used inclusion carriers; suitable for cell systems
Native β-CD	C104385	β-Cyclodextrin	7585-39-9	≥96%	General β-CD inclusion/solubilization carrier
Native β-CD	C104384	β-Cyclodextrin	7585-39-9	≥98%	General β-CD inclusion/solubilization carrier
Native β-CD (ready-to-use solution)	C425857	β-Cyclodextrin	7585-39-9	10 mM in DMSO	Ready-to-use solution for screening/dosing convenience
Native γ-CD (HPLC, source specified)	C432227	γ-Cyclodextrin	17465-86-0	≥90% cyclodextrin basis (HPLC), produced by Wacker Chemie AG, Burghausen, Germany	Larger cavity; suitable for bulkier guest inclusion
Native γ-CD (cell culture grade)	C103967	γ-Cyclodextrin	17465-86-0	For cell culture, ≥98%	Specification suitable for cell systems
Native γ-CD	C103968	γ-Cyclodextrin	17465-86-0	≥98%	High-purity γ-CD; research use

In aqueous solubilization, cell culture, or systems where organic solvents should be minimized, highly water-soluble derivatives are typically preferred. The table below summarizes common “solubilization/compatibility-oriented” cyclodextrin derivatives and typical use notes.

Table 2 | High-Solubility / Pharmaceutical-Excipient-Type Solubilizing Derivatives (HP, HE, SBE, CM, sulfated/succinylated, etc.)

Subcategory	Aladdin Cat. No.	Name	CAS No.	Specification / Purity	Key Features / Function
HP-α-CD	H302329	(2-Hydroxypropyl)-α-cyclodextrin	128446-33-3	average Mw ~1180	Improves water solubility; commonly used for inclusion solubilization/delivery systems
HP-β-CD (cell culture grade)	H476639	(2-Hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin	128446-35-5	BioReagent, for cell culture, Powder	Common solubilizer for cell culture; good biocompatibility
HP-β-CD	H108813	2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin	128446-35-5	≥97%	High-solubility carrier; improves apparent solubility via inclusion
HP-β-CD (ready-to-use solution)	H421142	2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin	128446-35-5	10 mM in DMSO	Ready-to-use solution for screening/cell dosing
HP-β-CD (pharmacopeial/high spec)	C485578	Hydroxypropyl Betadex (HPB)	128446-35-5	PharmPure™, USP	High-spec HP-β-CD for formulation/strict systems
HP-γ-CD (bracket note pending verification)	H757021	(2-Hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin (HP-γ-CD)	128446-34-4	≥98%	High water solubility; larger γ-CD cavity suits bulkier guests
HP-γ-CD (bracket note pending verification)	H102030	(2-Hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin (HP-γ-CD)	128446-34-4	average Mw ~1,580	Same as above; MW characterization provided
HE-β-CD	H166848	(2-Hydroxyethyl)-β-cyclodextrin	128446-32-2	–	Improves water solubility; stabilizes inclusion systems
α-CD sulfate sodium salt (hydrate)	C337211	α-Cyclodextrin sulfate sodium salt hydrate	699020-02-5	–	Anionic derivative; improves solubility and tunes interactions
Succinyl-α-CD	S121185	Succinyl-α-cyclodextrin	–	–	Introduces carboxyl groups; improves hydrophilicity and provides coupling sites
Succinyl-β-CD	S121137	Succinyl-β-cyclodextrin	957494-34-7	≥90%	Same as above; β scaffold is broadly applicable
SBE-β-CD sodium salt	C125030	Sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin sodium salt (SBE-β-CD)	182410-00-0	≥98%	Common pharmaceutical solubilizing excipient; anionic substitution improves solubility/compatibility
SBE-β-CD sodium salt (ready-to-use solution)	C422242	Sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin sodium salt (SBE-β-CD)	182410-00-0	10 mM in Water	Ready-to-use aqueous solution for formulation screening
CM-β-CD sodium salt (form pending verification)	C498852	Carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin, sodium salt	218269-34-2 (free base)	≥95%	Anionic solubilizer/inclusion carrier; commonly used in formulations
CM-β-CD sodium salt (DS specified)	C112001	Carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin sodium salt	–	DS ~7	Clear DS specification; helpful for formulation consistency control

Beyond improving water solubility, another derivatization route is to enhance the hydrophobic environment through methylation, ethylation, or alkylation, thereby altering host–guest selectivity for special systems. The table below summarizes hydrophobically modified/high-substitution cyclodextrins. In cell experiments, partially methylated β-CD may affect membrane cholesterol; blank controls and concentration gradients are recommended.

Table 3 | Hydrophobically Modified / High-Substitution Types (methylated, ethylated, alkylated, etc.)

Subcategory	Aladdin Cat. No.	Name	CAS No.	Specification / Purity	Key Features / Function
Ethylated β-CD	D121151	(2,6-di-O-)ethyl-β-cyclodextrin	111689-03-3	≥90%	Enhanced hydrophobicity; changes inclusion selectivity/interactions
DM-β-CD	D100520	2,6-di-O-methyl-β-cyclodextrin (DM-β-CD)	51166-71-3	≥98%	Methylated β-CD; used for solubilizing hydrophobic guests and membrane-interaction studies
DM-β-CD (ready-to-use solution)	D1496563	Dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin	51166-71-3	Moligand™, 10 mM in DMSO	Ready-to-use solution for screening/dosing
MβCD (randomly methylated β-CD)	M102038	Methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD)	128446-36-6	average Mn 1310	Commonly used for cholesterol extraction/transport and membrane studies; also for solubilization
Per-ethylated β-CD	H121155	Heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-ethyl)-β-cyclodextrin	111689-01-1	≥97%	Highly substituted, more hydrophobic; often used as an intermediate or in special inclusion systems
Per-methylated β-CD	H121049	Heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin	55216-11-0	≥98%	Highly substituted, more hydrophobic; often used as an intermediate/special inclusion systems
Per-methylated α-CD	H121157	Hexakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-α-cyclodextrin	68715-56-0	≥97%	Highly substituted methylated α-CD; common intermediate for materials/host–guest systems
Alkylated HP-β-CD	A347512	6A,6B,6C,6D,6E,6F,6G-Heptyl-O-(2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin	107745-73-3	–	Increased amphiphilicity; suitable for interfaces/carrier systems and selective inclusion
Butyl-γ-CD	B121144	Butyl-γ-cyclodextrin	–	–	Alkylated γ-CD; enhanced hydrophobic interactions for larger-guest systems
Pentylated γ-CD (high substitution)	O121167	Octakis(2,6-di-O-pentyl)-γ-cyclodextrin	–	≥95%	Strong hydrophobic modification; for specialized inclusion/material systems

If your goal is not only solubilization but further conjugation, surface modification, or materials construction, prioritize functionalized cyclodextrins with reactive handles. The following table is organized by common functional groups (azido, thiol, amino, tosyl, halogenated, etc.) to help quickly locate synthetic/conjugation starting points.

Table 4 | Functionalized / Further-Derivatizable Intermediates (amino/azido/thiol/halogenated/tosyl/acylated/silyl-protected, etc.)

Subcategory	Aladdin Cat. No.	Name	CAS No.	Specification / Purity	Key Features / Function
Amino α-CD	A151545	3A-Amino-3A-deoxy-(2AS,3AS)-α-cyclodextrin hydrate	121916-94-7	≥90% (HPLC)	Introduces a primary amine; enables conjugation/labeling/immobilization
Acetamido β-CD	A404140	6-Acetamido-β-cyclodextrin	131991-70-3	–	Introduces an amide group; functionalization/interaction tuning
Thiol β-CD	D304711	6-Thio-6-deoxy-β-cyclodextrin	81644-55-5	≥98%	Thiol handle; surface modification/thiol coupling systems
Azido β-CD	A151547	6A-Azido-6A-deoxy-β-cyclodextrin	98169-85-8	≥85% (HPLC)	Common for click chemistry (azide–alkyne)
Multi-thiol β-CD	H303030	Heptakis(6-thio-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin	160661-60-9	≥98%	Multi-site conjugation/crosslinking construction
Triacetyl β-CD	T162312	Triacetyl-β-cyclodextrin	23739-88-0	≥97%	Acylated intermediate; increased hydrophobicity/protection strategy
Acetylated β-CD	A121142	Acetyl-β-cyclodextrin	–	–	Acylated derivative; intermediate for synthesis/property tuning
Benzoylated β-CD (high substitution)	H121154	Heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl)-β-cyclodextrin	23666-43-5	≥95%	Strongly hydrophobic intermediate; for further synthesis/materials
Silyl-protected + acetylated β-CD	S121184	(Silyl-protected/acetylated) β-cyclodextrin derivative*	–	–	Synthetic intermediate (protecting-group strategy)
Brominated γ-CD	O1455609	Octakis(6-bromo-6-deoxy)-γ-cyclodextrin	53784-84-2	≥99%	Halogenated handle; enables further functionalization via nucleophilic substitution
Brominated γ-CD (ready-to-use solution)	O1496287	Octakis(6-bromo-6-deoxy)-γ-cyclodextrin	53784-84-2	Moligand™, 10 mM in DMSO	Ready-to-use solution for screening/pre-reaction evaluation
TBDMS-γ-CD	O121166	Octakis(6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-γ-cyclodextrin	–		Protected derivative; synthetic intermediate
TBDMS-α-CD	H121156	Hexakis(6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-α-cyclodextrin	–	≥90%	Protected derivative; synthetic intermediate
Mono-amino β-CD (≥98%)	M639903	Mono-(6-amino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin	29390-67-8	≥98%	Single-site primary amine; site-directed conjugation
Mono-amino β-CD (≥99%)	M303345	Mono-(6-amino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin	29390-67-8	≥99%	Same as above (higher purity)
Ethylenediamine-modified β-CD	M304129	Mono-(6-ethylenediamino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin	60984-63-6	≥99%	Introduces a diamine spacer; increases reactivity/spacer length
Diethylenetriamine-modified β-CD	M304288	Mono-(6-diethylenetriamino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin	65294-32-8	≥99%	Polyamine chain; improves coupling capacity/positive charge
Triethylenetetramine-modified β-CD	M304289	Mono-(6-triethylenetetramino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin	65294-33-9	≥95%	Same as above
Tetraethylenepentamine-modified β-CD	M303488	Mono-(6-tetraethylenepentamino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin	343315-27-5	≥95%	Same as above
Hexamethylenediamine-modified β-CD	M302384	Mono-(6-hexamethylenediamino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin	131991-61-2	≥98%	Longer spacer; improves accessibility for conjugation
Tosyl-α-CD (2-O)	M158310	Mono-2-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-α-cyclodextrin	93184-10-2	≥98% (HPLC)	Tosyl leaving group; enables subsequent substitution reactions
Tosyl-β-CD (2-O, hydrate)	M158311	Mono-2-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-β-cyclodextrin hydrate	84216-71-7	≥97% (HPLC)	Same as above
Tosyl-α-CD (6-O)	M158315	Mono-6-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-α-cyclodextrin	32860-56-3	≥85% (HPLC)	Same as above (different position)
Tosyl-γ-CD (6-O)	M158312	Mono-6-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-γ-cyclodextrin	97227-33-3	≥90% (HPLC)	Same as above
Tosyl-β-CD (6-O)	M158314	Mono-6-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-β-cyclodextrin	67217-55-4	≥85% (HPLC)	Same as above
Mesitylenesulfonyl-γ-CD	M158313	Mono-6-O-mesitylenesulfonyl-γ-cyclodextrin	174010-62-9	≥90% (HPLC)	More hydrophobic/reactive handle; for further derivatization
Aromatic-substituted per-methylated α-CD	M404649	Mono-6-O-(2-naphthyl)-per-O-methyl-α-cyclodextrin	1019999-18-8	–	Introduces an aromatic group; for host–guest recognition/material construction (specialized derivative)

For scenarios demanding higher loading, more stable solubilization, or a quicker start, you can choose “application-format” options such as polymeric cyclodextrins, pre-formed inclusion complexes, and conjugate building blocks. The table below summarizes these engineering-oriented options, and also includes enzymes related to cyclodextrins.

Table 5 | Application / Functional Types: Polymers, Inclusion Complexes, Glycosylated Derivatives, Conjugate Building Blocks, Related Enzymes

Subcategory	Aladdin Cat. No.	Name	CAS No.	Specification / Purity	Key Features / Function
γ-CD polymer (soluble)	C121148	Soluble γ-cyclodextrin polymer	–	≥95%	Multi-site inclusion/solubilization; suitable for delivery and system stabilization
Water-soluble polymeric cyclodextrin	S303244	Water-soluble polymeric cyclodextrin	25655-42-9	BioReagent	Polymeric CD; enhanced solubilization and stability (bioreagent grade)
Glycosylated β-CD	M121037	6-O-α-D-maltosyl-β-cyclodextrin	104723-60-6	≥98%	Improved hydrophilicity/biocompatibility; altered recognition properties
Glycosylated β-CD (ready-to-use solution)	M1498762	6-O-α-D-maltosyl-β-cyclodextrin	104723-60-6	Moligand™, 10 mM in DMSO	Ready-to-use solution for screening/formulation testing
Drug–β-CD inclusion complex	P305038	Piroxicam–β-cyclodextrin	96684-39-8	Piroxicam content: 10%	Representative inclusion complex; improves apparent solubility and handling
Cyclodextrin conjugate building block (bis-CD)	B406192	2,2-Bis[4-(per-O-methyl-α-cyclodextrin-6-yloxy)phenyl]propane	B406192	–	Building block containing CD units; for supramolecular/material assembly
Cyclodextrin conjugate building block (porphyrin–multi-CD)	T406149	5,10,15,20-Tetrakis[4-(per-O-methyl-α-cyclodextrin-6-yloxy)phenyl]porphyrin	T406149	–	Porphyrin with multiple CD sites; for host–guest assembly/photosensitizer materials
Cyclodextrin-related enzyme	C1442898	Cyclodextrin hydrolase	37288-41-8	–	Enzyme reagent for cyclodextrin-related biocatalysis/hydrolytic transformation

Aladdin: https://www.aladdinsci.com/