Cationic cyclodextrins: cell penetrating agents and other diverse applications

The positively charged cyclodextrins (CDs) have attracted wide attention in the last years, as also have other positively charged molecules e.g. dendrimers polymers, and various oligomers. The interest arises mainly form the coexistence of a CD cavity for molecular entrapment and a positively charged corona that can additionally stabilize the inclusion via electrostatic forces. More over, positively charged CDs may act as catalysts of various organic reactions, form supramolecular capsules in solution with negatively charged CDs, encapsulate anionic guest such as nucleotides, act as inhibitors of virulence factors by blocking the pores of pore-forming proteins, and finally act as cell penetrating (CPCDs) and DNA delivery agents. Therefore cationic CDs constitute a remarkable family of drug delivery molecules with high potential and diverse applications.