The heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (DIMEB), a methylated beta-cyclodextrin
isomer has gained special interest due to its outstanding properties including high
solubility and excellent solubilizing effect. It was found to enhance the pertussis
toxin production in 1980s and has been used as an auxiliary material in manufacturing
acellular pertussis vaccine since then. This vaccine applied world-wide against whooping
cough has maintained the demand for DIMEB. In the meantime, further applications were
discovered in other biotechnologies, drug delivery and tissue imaging. The high potential
in the use as a therapeutic agent was also studied by several research groups. The
increasing amount of knowledge concerning DIMEB calls for a systematic review.
In this work we give the background based on the scientific literature and patents
on the synthesis, effect and mechanism of action of this special cyclodextrin derivative.
In relation to its applications, also, suitable analytical methods are enumerated
to distinguish various methylated species of beta-cyclodextrins.
Industrially produced DIMEB is a mixture of methylated cyclodextrin isomers containing
at least 40 % of the specific single isomer heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin.
It was proved that this special methylation pattern has several advantages over the
other methylated beta-cyclodextrin isomers including enhanced solubilizing and stabilizing
effect, increased catalytic activity in various biotechnologies and special cellular
effects with a potential in the therapy of various diseases.
