Description
Alpha-Cyclodextrin (Native)
Alpha-Cyclodextrin (Native) is a cyclic oligosaccharide composed of six glucose units linked by α-1,4-glycosidic bonds, forming the smallest of the three native cyclodextrins. Its characteristic truncated cone structure features a hydrophilic exterior and a hydrophobic interior cavity with a diameter of 4.7–5.3 Å — uniquely suited for encapsulating linear aliphatic chains, small aromatic molecules, and short-chain fatty acid derivatives. With a molecular weight of 972 Da and exceptional natural water solubility of 145 g/L at 25°C, alpha-cyclodextrin is the most water-soluble of the three native cyclodextrin forms, offering distinct advantages in applications requiring high aqueous compatibility.
Product Specifications
- Molecular Formula: C₃₆H₆₀O₃₀
- Molecular Weight: 972.0 Da
- CAS Number: 10016-20-3
- Cavity Diameter: 4.7–5.3 Å
- Water Solubility: 145 g/L at 25°C
- Purity: ≥98% (HPLC)
- Appearance: White crystalline powder
- Storage: Room temperature, dry conditions, protected from moisture
- Shelf Life: 24 months from date of manufacture
How Alpha-Cyclodextrin Works
The six-membered glucose ring structure of alpha-cyclodextrin creates a cavity that is smaller than beta or gamma cyclodextrin, making it selective for guest molecules with a linear or compact geometry. Its high natural water solubility means that alpha-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes are readily dispersible in aqueous systems without requiring chemical modification to improve solubility — an important practical advantage over native beta-cyclodextrin, which has limited aqueous solubility of only 18.5 g/L at 25°C. The combination of small cavity selectivity, high water solubility, and established regulatory status makes alpha-cyclodextrin a uniquely positioned tool across dietary, pharmaceutical, and analytical applications.
Dietary Fiber and Nutraceutical Applications
Alpha-cyclodextrin has gained significant recognition as a functional dietary fiber ingredient with documented health benefits. It is resistant to human salivary and pancreatic amylases as well as intestinal brush border enzymes, meaning it passes through the upper gastrointestinal tract largely intact and reaches the colon where it exerts prebiotic effects on gut microbiota composition. Clinical studies have demonstrated that alpha-cyclodextrin supplementation reduces postprandial glycemic response, lowers LDL cholesterol levels, and supports healthy gut microbiome diversity. These properties have driven growing demand for alpha-cyclodextrin as a clean-label soluble fiber ingredient in functional foods, dietary supplements, and medical nutrition products.
Alpha-cyclodextrin has received FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status and European Commission Novel Food approval, providing a strong regulatory foundation for food and nutraceutical applications globally. Demand for alpha-cyclodextrin in dietary supplement applications grew 11% over 2022–2024, driven by consumer interest in functional fiber ingredients and clean-label formulation trends.
Food and Beverage Industry Applications
In food manufacturing, alpha-cyclodextrin serves multiple functional roles enabled by its unique ability to form inclusion complexes with fatty acids, cholesterol, and lipophilic flavor compounds. Primary food industry applications include fat encapsulation in reduced-calorie food products, cholesterol removal from dairy products including butter, cream, and egg yolk through selective molecular encapsulation, stabilization of fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients including vitamins A, D, E, and K in fortified food and beverage products, flavor protection and controlled release in processed foods and beverages where volatile aromatic compounds require protection against oxidation and evaporation, and emulsion stabilization in dressings, spreads, and dairy-based products. The use of alpha-cyclodextrin in low-fat and cholesterol-reduced food products represents one of its largest volume commercial applications, with European dairy manufacturers particularly active in adopting this technology for premium product lines.
Pharmaceutical Formulation Applications
In pharmaceutical formulation, alpha-cyclodextrin forms inclusion complexes with linear chain molecules, prostaglandins, and select small molecule APIs with appropriate geometric compatibility with its 4.7–5.3 Å cavity. Applications include taste masking of bitter APIs with linear chain structures, stabilization of volatile or oxidation-sensitive pharmaceutical compounds, and solubility enhancement for specific drug classes including prostaglandin derivatives. Alpha-cyclodextrin has been used as an excipient in parenteral formulations for prostaglandin drugs where its small cavity provides selective complexation with these linear chain molecules. Its GRAS status and established safety profile support use across multiple pharmaceutical dosage forms.
Analytical Chemistry Applications
Alpha-cyclodextrin functions as a chiral selector in capillary electrophoresis for resolution of small molecule enantiomers, particularly compounds with linear chain or compact aromatic structures that fit its smaller cavity. It is used in analytical method development for pharmaceutical quality control, environmental monitoring, and food safety testing where chiral separation of target analytes is required.
Cosmetics and Personal Care Applications
In cosmetic and personal care formulations, alpha-cyclodextrin encapsulates fragrance compounds, essential oils, and volatile active ingredients, providing controlled release and improved stability against evaporation and oxidation. Its high water solubility facilitates incorporation into aqueous-based formulations including serums, toners, and leave-on skincare products without requiring organic solvent assistance. Alpha-cyclodextrin is used in premium oral care products for controlled release of active ingredients and in deodorant formulations for fragrance encapsulation and odor control applications.
Agricultural and Industrial Applications
Alpha-cyclodextrin finds application in agricultural chemistry for encapsulation of pesticide active ingredients, improving their water dispersibility, stability, and controlled release profiles. In industrial chemistry, alpha-cyclodextrin serves as a molecular carrier and encapsulation matrix for diverse applications including textile treatment, paper manufacturing, and specialty chemical formulation requiring aqueous delivery of hydrophobic compounds.
Why Choose Michigan Diagnostics?
Michigan Diagnostics has manufactured pharmaceutical-grade alpha-cyclodextrin from our Royal Oak, Michigan facility since 1998. Every production lot is manufactured under ISO-compliant quality management systems with rigorous in-process controls and comprehensive final product testing. Full Certificate of Analysis is provided with every order, including HPLC purity data confirming ≥98% purity, NMR confirmation of structure, water content by Karl Fischer titration, and residual solvent analysis.
Available in 5g, 25g, and 100g standard pack sizes with custom quantities available on request. No minimum order requirement and no distributor markup — you buy direct from the manufacturer at competitive pricing. Orders ship within 2–3 business days from our Michigan facility, eliminating the 2–4 week international lead times associated with European cyclodextrin suppliers. No import delays, no customs clearance complications, no cold chain uncertainty for domestic US shipments.
Our PhD-level chemistry team provides direct technical support for application questions, storage guidance, and formulation assistance. Custom alpha-cyclodextrin derivatives including sulfated forms are available — see our Sulfated Alpha-Cyclodextrin (Low, 3-6) and Sulfated Alpha-Cyclodextrin (High, 8-11) product listings for specialized analytical and pharmaceutical research applications.
Contact Michigan Diagnostics for bulk pricing, custom synthesis inquiries, or technical application support at michdiag.com.
Related products: Alpha-Cyclodextrin Sulfated (Low Sulfate, 3-6), Alpha-Cyclodextrin Sulfated (High Sulfate, 8-11)
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.