Description
beta-Cyclodextrin is a cyclic heptamer composed of seven glucose units joined "head-to-tail" by alpha-1.4 links. It is produced by the action of the enzyme, cyclodextrin glycosyl transferase (CGT), on hydrolyzed starch syrups. Cyclodextrins are able to form host-guest complexes with hydrophobic molecules given the unique nature imparted by their structure. As a result, these molecules have found a number of applications in a wide range of fields. beta-cyclodextrins are used to produce HPLC columns allowing chiral enantiomers separation, and are also the main ingredient in P&G's product Febreze which claims that the beta-cyclodextrins " trap" odor causing compounds, thereby reducing the odor