The Dynamics of Guest Complexation with Cyclodextrins: A Photophysical Study

Cyclodextrins (CDs) have been the most widely used molecules investigated as hosts for their potential application in areas such as catalysis, chromatography, drug delivery systems, and as biomimics for enzyme-substrate binding. To achieve success in these areas of application, a better understanding of the relationship between structure and dynamics for CD host-guest systems is required. The main objective of this book is to investigate aspects responsible for the dynamics of guest molecules complexed with CDs. We have shown with the use of a variety of photophysical methods and in collaboration with theoretical calculations that the complexation dynamics for guests with CDs are very dependent on the structure of the guest molecule. Small changes in structure have important consequences on the binding efficiencies of these guests to CDs. This information will aid in the understanding of the structure-dynamics relationship that occurs in supramolecular systems. This book will be useful to research scientists that study the dynamics of guest complexation with CDs and those who may be considering using photophysical methods to study dynamics in supramolecular systems.

Studied physical organic chemistry at the University of Victoria. As an Associate Professor at the University of Regina, his current research program is focused on developing photoregulated, receptor-targeted, liposomal drug delivery systems.