CYCLODEXTRINS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

Cyclodextrins play an important role in all major areas of modern instrumental analysis. Most of the interest in cyclodextrins results from their ability to form inclusion (host-guest) complexes with a variety of molecules and ions in aqueous solutions. Complexation by cyclodextrins can alter some of the physical and chemical properties of guest molecules, such as solubility, chemical reactivity and the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties, and many of these effects can be utilized in a variety of chemical analytical techniques. This review summarizes the use of cyclodextrins in major areas of analytical chemistry such as chromatography, electrophoresis, spectroscopy, electrochemistry and as analytical sensors.