Tailored CD-derivatives for the revitalization of existing drugs and the design of novel multifunctional nanocarriers

Cyclodextrins (CDs) consist of α-1,4-linked D-glucopyranose units forming cyclic oligosaccharides, used as pharmaceutical excipients thanks to their ability to enhance water solubility and bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs upon formation of supramolecular host : guest complexes. Multifunctional CD-based nanocarriers have been designed, synthesized and comprehensively studied towards the repotentiation of antibiotics suffering from antimicrobial resistance. Moreover, novel CD-based polymeric nanoparticles are envisaged to combine high amounts of non-covalently loaded anticancer drugs with i) a photosensitizer for standard Photodynamic Therapy and ii) an Oxygen Releasing Agent, thus obtaining excellent Reactive Oxygen Species production and improved drug efficacy also in the case of hypoxic conditions (i.e. in Breast Cancer). Thus, tailored CD-based systems represent a nanosized army ready to launch all its potential weapons against diverse life-threatening diseases.