Interactions between cyclodextrins and cellular components: Towards greener medical applications?

Leclercq, Loïc

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) defines carbohydrates as a class of organic compounds containing a carbonyl group (aldehyde or ketone) and at least two hydroxy residues (OH). It is noteworthy that substances derived from monosaccharides by reduction of the carbonyl group, by oxidation of at least one functional group at the end of the chain in carboxylic acid, by replacement of one or more hydroxy groups by a hydrogen atom, an amine, a thiol or any similar group are also called carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are, with proteins and lipids, essential constituents of living organisms because they are key biological intermediates for energy storage. In autotrophs, such as plants, sugars are converted into starch whereas for heterotrophic organisms, such as animals, they are stored as glycogen. However, polysaccharides serve also as structural components: cellulose for plants and chitin for arthropods. Moreover, saccharides and their derivatives play key roles in the immune system, fertilization, blood clotting, information transfer, etc. For instance, the 5-carbon monosaccharide ribose forms the backbone of the genetic molecule RNA (see below) and is also an important component of coenzymes (ATP, FAD and NAD).