Grégorio Crini, Dario Lacalamita, Chong Liu, Marc Fourmentin, Miriana Kfoury, Chiara Mongioví, Sophie Fourmentin, Nadia Morin‐Crini
ABSTRACT Cyclodextrins (CDs) have undergone a remarkable evolution over the past three decades, transitioning from classical solubilizing agents to multifunctional platforms central to supramolecular chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, and advanced materials engineering. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of CD research and applications covering a 20-year period, integrating bibliometric trends with advances in chemical macromolecular design, physical and mechanical properties, and application-driven innovation. We examine the maturation of CD chemistry from fundamental host-guest interactions to complex supramolecular architectures, including polymers, hydrogels, nanosponges, fibers, and new materials such as metal-organic frameworks. Particular emphasis is placed on the physicochemical, morphological, and mechanical properties that govern macroscopic performance, as well as on translational aspects such as regulatory approval, clinical adoption, and industrial scalability. Bibliometric evidence highlights a sustained growth in publications and citations, reflecting the field’s multidisciplinary consolidation across chemistry, pharmaceutics, materials science, and environmental engineering. Emerging themes, including sustainability and life cycle assessment, artificial intelligence-assisted design, and the redefinition of CD as active functional agents rather than passive excipients, are critically discussed. By contextualizing three decades of progress, this review identifies current limitations and outlines future directions necessary to advance CD-based materials toward next-generation, sustainable, and precision-engineered applications.