Next Article in Journal
Targeting Pan-Cancer Stemness: Core Regulatory lncRNAs as Novel Therapeutic Vulnerabilities
Previous Article in Journal
Heterogeneity of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Gene Variants: A Genetic Database Analysis in Russia
Previous Article in Special Issue
Cyclodextrin Complexes for the Treatment of Chagas Disease: A Literature Review
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJMS
Volume 26
Issue 23
10.3390/ijms262311682
ijms-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

Exploring Cyclodextrin Complexes of Lipophilic Antioxidants: Benefits and Challenges in Nutraceutical Development

by
Mario Jug
1,
Kristina Radić
1,
Laura Nižić Nodilo
1,
Emerik Galić
1,
Tea Petković
1,
Marina Jurić
1,
Nikolina Golub
1,
Ivanka Jerić
2 and
Dubravka Vitali Čepo
1,*
1
Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Ante Kovačića 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
2
Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička Cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(23), 11682; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311682
Submission received: 30 October 2025 / Revised: 25 November 2025 / Accepted: 27 November 2025 / Published: 2 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Cyclodextrin: Properties and Biomedical Applications)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Antioxidants are essential bioactive compounds widely recognized for their health benefits in preventing oxidative stress-related diseases. However, many lipophilic antioxidants suffer from poor aqueous solubility, low chemical stability, and limited bioavailability, restricting their application in food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. Cyclodextrins (CDs), a class of cyclic oligosaccharides with a hydrophilic exterior and lipophilic interior, present an effective strategy to encapsulate and deliver these compounds by improving their solubility, stability, and therapeutic efficacy. This review critically examines the structural features and derivatives of cyclodextrins relevant for antioxidant encapsulation, mechanisms and thermodynamics of inclusion complex formation, and advanced characterization techniques. It evaluates the influence of CD encapsulation on the oral bioavailability and antioxidant activity of various lipophilic antioxidants supported by recent in vitro and in vivo studies. Moreover, sustainable preparation methods for CD complexes are discussed alongside safety and regulatory considerations. The comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge contributes to guiding the rational design and development of CD-based antioxidant nutraceuticals, addressing formulation challenges while promoting efficacy and consumer safety.
Keywords: cyclodextrin; inclusion complex; antioxidant; carotenoid; retinoid; tocopherol; curcumin; capsaicin cyclodextrin; inclusion complex; antioxidant; carotenoid; retinoid; tocopherol; curcumin; capsaicin

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Jug, M.; Radić, K.; Nižić Nodilo, L.; Galić, E.; Petković, T.; Jurić, M.; Golub, N.; Jerić, I.; Vitali Čepo, D. Exploring Cyclodextrin Complexes of Lipophilic Antioxidants: Benefits and Challenges in Nutraceutical Development. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 11682. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311682

AMA Style

Jug M, Radić K, Nižić Nodilo L, Galić E, Petković T, Jurić M, Golub N, Jerić I, Vitali Čepo D. Exploring Cyclodextrin Complexes of Lipophilic Antioxidants: Benefits and Challenges in Nutraceutical Development. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(23):11682. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311682

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jug, Mario, Kristina Radić, Laura Nižić Nodilo, Emerik Galić, Tea Petković, Marina Jurić, Nikolina Golub, Ivanka Jerić, and Dubravka Vitali Čepo. 2025. "Exploring Cyclodextrin Complexes of Lipophilic Antioxidants: Benefits and Challenges in Nutraceutical Development" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 23: 11682. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311682

APA Style

Jug, M., Radić, K., Nižić Nodilo, L., Galić, E., Petković, T., Jurić, M., Golub, N., Jerić, I., & Vitali Čepo, D. (2025). Exploring Cyclodextrin Complexes of Lipophilic Antioxidants: Benefits and Challenges in Nutraceutical Development. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(23), 11682. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311682

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.
Back to TopTop