Cyclodextrins can serve as carriers for various payloads, utilizing their capacity
to form unique host–guest inclusion complexes within their cavity and their versatile
surface functionalization. Recently, cationic cyclodextrins have gained considerable
attention, as they can improve drug permeability across negatively charged cell membranes
and efficiently condense negatively charged nucleic acid due to electrostatic interactions.
This review focuses on state-of-the-art and recent advances in the construction of
cationic cyclodextrin-based delivery systems. First, we identified different cationic
moieties that are commonly employed in the design of cyclodextrins with enhanced complexation
ability. Subsequently, a wide range of cationic cyclodextrin-based drug delivery systems
were analyzed with emphasis on chemistry, drug release profiles, and therapeutic outcomes.
The evaluation of the delivery platforms was also based on the four major types of
drugs, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antidiabetic agents.
The delivery systems for nucleic acids were also summarized while focusing on their
condensation ability, transfection efficiency, and biocompatibility in comparison
to commercially available vectors such as PEI 25 kDa and lipofectamine 2000. Furthermore,
we highlighted the potential of cationic cyclodextrins in constructing multimodal
delivery systems for the simultaneous encapsulation of both drugs and nucleic acids.
Finally, the challenges and limitations associated with cationic cyclodextrin setups
were discussed.
