Beta-Cyclodextrin (Native)

Description

Beta Cyclodextrin (Native)

Beta-Cyclodextrin (Native) is a cyclic oligosaccharide composed of seven glucose units linked by α-1,4-glycosidic bonds, featuring a characteristic truncated cone structure with a hydrophilic exterior and a hydrophobic interior cavity. With a cavity diameter of 6.0–6.5 Å and molecular weight of 1135 Da, beta-cyclodextrin is the most widely used member of the cyclodextrin family, accounting for approximately 48% of global cyclodextrin market demand across pharmaceutical, food science, analytical chemistry, and industrial applications.

Product Specifications

• Molecular Formula: C₄₂H₇₀O₃₅
• Molecular Weight: 1135.0 Da
• CAS Number: 7585-39-9
• Cavity Diameter: 6.0–6.5 Å
• Water Solubility: 18.5 g/L at 25°C
• Purity: ≥98% (HPLC)
• Appearance: White to off-white crystalline powder
• Storage: Room temperature, dry conditions, protected from moisture
• Shelf Life: 24 months from date of manufacture

How Beta-Cyclodextrin Works

The unique toroidal structure of beta-cyclodextrin creates a hydrophobic interior cavity capable of forming non-covalent inclusion complexes with appropriately sized guest molecules. The outer surface remains hydrophilic, making the resulting complex water-dispersible even when the guest molecule is poorly water-soluble. This molecular encapsulation capability is the foundation for virtually all pharmaceutical and industrial applications of beta-cyclodextrin. The cavity diameter of 6.0–6.5 Å is ideally suited for encapsulating medium-sized aromatic molecules, steroids, and a wide range of active pharmaceutical ingredients that represent the majority of drug development candidates with solubility challenges.

Pharmaceutical Formulation Applications

Native beta-cyclodextrin is extensively used in pharmaceutical research and development for solubility enhancement of poorly water-soluble APIs. Approximately 40% of new drug candidates in pharmaceutical development pipelines exhibit poor aqueous solubility, making beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex formation a critical formulation strategy. Beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes can improve drug solubility by 5–10 times compared to unformulated compounds, directly improving bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Applications in pharmaceutical formulation include oral solid dosage forms, topical drug delivery systems, ophthalmic preparations, and early-phase feasibility studies for BCS Class II and IV compounds.

Drug Delivery Research

In drug delivery research, beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes protect active pharmaceutical ingredients from degradation by light, oxygen, and enzymatic processes. Complexation can reduce gastrointestinal irritation caused by certain drug molecules, improve chemical stability during manufacturing and storage, and enable controlled-release formulation strategies. Beta-cyclodextrin is widely used in academic and industrial drug delivery research as a screening excipient due to its low cost, established safety profile, and broad compatibility with diverse drug molecules.

Chiral Separations and Analytical Chemistry

Beta-cyclodextrin and its derivatives serve as chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis (CE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for enantiomeric resolution of pharmaceutical compounds, agrochemicals, and environmental analytes. The chiral recognition capability of the beta-cyclodextrin cavity enables separation of enantiomers that are otherwise inseparable by conventional achiral methods. This application is critical in pharmaceutical quality control, where regulatory agencies require demonstration of enantiomeric purity for chiral drug substances.

Food Science and Nutraceutical Applications

Native beta-cyclodextrin is GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) listed by the FDA and approved as a novel food ingredient by the European Commission, enabling broad food industry applications. In food science, beta-cyclodextrin is used for cholesterol removal from dairy products and eggs through selective molecular encapsulation, flavor encapsulation and controlled release in processed foods and beverages, stabilization of volatile flavor compounds against oxidation and evaporation, and taste masking of bitter or off-flavor compounds in functional food formulations. The European food industry has adopted beta-cyclodextrin extensively in low-cholesterol dairy product manufacturing, with regulatory support for use across multiple food categories.

Cosmetics and Personal Care

In cosmetic formulations, beta-cyclodextrin encapsulates fragrance compounds, stabilizes sensitive active ingredients against oxidation and photodegradation, reduces skin irritation from harsh actives, and improves product shelf life. Premium skincare brands incorporate cyclodextrin complexes to enhance the stability and controlled release of retinoids, vitamin C derivatives, and other oxidation-sensitive actives.

Environmental and Industrial Applications

Modified beta-cyclodextrin derivatives have demonstrated effectiveness in environmental remediation applications, capturing persistent organic pollutants, hydrophobic contaminants, and heavy metals through inclusion complex formation. In industrial chemistry, beta-cyclodextrin serves as a phase-transfer catalyst, molecular carrier, and encapsulation matrix for a wide range of applications including textile treatment, paper manufacturing, and agricultural chemical formulation.

Why Choose Michigan Diagnostics?

Michigan Diagnostics has manufactured pharmaceutical-grade beta-cyclodextrin from our Royal Oak, Michigan facility since 1998. Every lot is produced under ISO-compliant quality management systems with comprehensive in-process and final product testing. Full Certificate of Analysis provided with every order, including HPLC purity data, NMR confirmation, water content by Karl Fischer titration, and residual solvent analysis. Available from 5g research quantities through 1000g bulk orders with no minimum order requirement and no markup over manufacturer pricing. Most orders ship within 2–3 business days from our Michigan facility — no import delays, no customs clearance uncertainty, no 2–4 week international lead times from European suppliers.

Our technical team consists of PhD-level chemists with deep expertise in cyclodextrin chemistry, inclusion complex formation, and pharmaceutical excipient applications. Questions about purity specifications, application suitability, storage conditions, or custom derivative availability receive expert responses directly from the manufacturing team.

Custom synthesis of beta-cyclodextrin derivatives is available including hydroxypropyl, sulfobutyl ether, methylated, and custom-specified modification patterns. Contact us for same-day quotes on custom quantities or specialized derivative requirements.

Related products: Beta-Cyclodextrin Sulfated (Low, 4-7), Beta-Cyclodextrin Sulfated (High, 12-15), Beta-Cyclodextrin Phosphated (Low, 4-7), Beta-Cyclodextrin Phosphated (High, 12-15)