In the food industry, for example, alpha-cyclodextrin (also known as alphadextrin) offers a new vegetarian-grade alternative to stabilization of oil-in-water emulsions. It can also be used as a whipping aid for liquid and dry proteins. As a whipping agent, it makes it possible to produce new mousse products without the need for fat or dairy protein. alpha-Cyclodextrin is used in Europe, USA and many other countries as a soluble dietary fiber. Moreover, the European Commission has certified that alpha-cyclodextrin has a scientifically proven health benefit (health claim). The EU expert opinion confirmed that alpha-cyclodextrins can reduce the increase in blood sugar after a starchy meal. Other applications of cyclodextrins in the food industry include masking bitter tasting substances, stabilizing aromas and increasing the bioavailability of active ingredients.
Because they are capable of reversible inclusion of other substances, cyclodextrins can also be used in pharmaceutical and chemical fields of application, for modifying the properties of compounds: for example improving the stability and solubility in aqueous media or to reduce the volatility; likewise, they can mask the taste or odor of drugs. Besides this, cyclodextrins are used in fermentation to extract the desired fermentation products. They are particularly suitable for lipophilic products.
In addition, cyclodextrins can also be used to selectively improve the properties of polymer systems: For example as processing auxiliaries in polymerization processes or as additives for rheology control – in a range of different industries, in construction applications as well as in life science applications.
