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Abstract Cyclodextrins, natural oligosaccharides obtained from starch by enzymatic degradation, have been discovered more than 129 years ago by the pioneering
work of the French pharmacist and chemist Antoine Villiers. These molecules still
fascinate researchers and industrials because they are remarkable macrocyclic molecules with major impacts in chemistry, biology, and health science.
When we look at cyclodextrin chemistry today and reflect on how it has developed over the last five decades, no other scientist has been more determining,
focused, and inspiring than Professor József Szejtli. Indeed, among the list of prestigious researchers who have contributed to the development of cyclodextrins,
Professor Szejtli played a fundamental role as eminent scientist and visionary. Since
the mid-1950s, he has devoted his life to cyclodextrins, publishing more than 500
publications, including 106 patent applications. Professor Szejtli knew virtually
everything about them. He was most likely the first to believe in the possibilities of
industrial production and the multiple applications of cyclodextrins. Professor
Szejtli was also an ambitious entrepreneur, creating in 1989 CycloLab Ltd., an independent company totally devoted to cyclodextrins. He is internationally recognized
for his outstanding contribution to the cyclodextrin science and considered to be the
“Godfather of Cyclodextrins.”
This chapter is a tribute to his scientific oeuvre. Firstly, we give a general overview of his outstanding career. Secondly, we have chosen to highlight some of the
important works published by Professor Szejtli in more than 50 years of career.
Keywords Tribute · Professor Szejtli · Production · Native cyclodextrins ·
Cyclodextrin derivatives · Structure · Inclusion complexes · Foods · Cosmetics ·
Chromatography · Catalysis · Biotechnology · Industry · Awards and distinctions
2.1 Introduction
Cyclodextrins, natural oligosaccharides obtained from starch by enzymatic degradation, were discovered serendipitously in 1891 by the French pharmacist Villiers
(Villiers 1891; Cramer 1954; French 1957; Thoma and Stewart 1965; Caesar 1968;
Szejtli 1982a; Clarke et al. 1988). However, expensive to produce, the three main
native cyclodextrins, i.e., α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins, were long considered just
laboratory curiosities (Szejtli 1998; Loftsson and Duchêne 2007; Crini 2014).
Indeed, until the mid-1970s, the main obstacle was not only their price but also their
presumed toxicity (French 1957). Another factor traditionally stood in the way of
industrial development was the lack of sufficient knowledge of these molecules. In
addition, very few researchers were convinced of the industrial potential of cyclodextrins (Szejtli 1982a; Duchêne 1987; Hedges 1998; Crini 2014; Morin-Crini et al.
2015; Crini et al. 2018).
Native cyclodextrins were only produced on an industrial scale after 1979 (Szejtli
1982a, 1988a; Duchêne 1987, 1991), and they only really took off in the 1980s with the
G. Crini et al.
Abstract Cyclodextrins, natural oligosaccharides obtained from starch by enzymatic degradation, have been discovered more than 129 years ago by the pioneering
work of the French pharmacist and chemist Antoine Villiers. These molecules still
fascinate researchers and industrials because they are remarkable macrocyclic molecules with major impacts in chemistry, biology, and health science.
When we look at cyclodextrin chemistry today and reflect on how it has developed over the last five decades, no other scientist has been more determining,
focused, and inspiring than Professor József Szejtli. Indeed, among the list of prestigious researchers who have contributed to the development of cyclodextrins,
Professor Szejtli played a fundamental role as eminent scientist and visionary. Since
the mid-1950s, he has devoted his life to cyclodextrins, publishing more than 500
publications, including 106 patent applications. Professor Szejtli knew virtually
everything about them. He was most likely the first to believe in the possibilities of
industrial production and the multiple applications of cyclodextrins. Professor
Szejtli was also an ambitious entrepreneur, creating in 1989 CycloLab Ltd., an independent company totally devoted to cyclodextrins. He is internationally recognized
for his outstanding contribution to the cyclodextrin science and considered to be the
“Godfather of Cyclodextrins.”
This chapter is a tribute to his scientific oeuvre. Firstly, we give a general overview of his outstanding career. Secondly, we have chosen to highlight some of the
important works published by Professor Szejtli in more than 50 years of career.
Keywords Tribute · Professor Szejtli · Production · Native cyclodextrins ·
Cyclodextrin derivatives · Structure · Inclusion complexes · Foods · Cosmetics ·
Chromatography · Catalysis · Biotechnology · Industry · Awards and distinctions
2.1 Introduction
Cyclodextrins, natural oligosaccharides obtained from starch by enzymatic degradation, were discovered serendipitously in 1891 by the French pharmacist Villiers
(Villiers 1891; Cramer 1954; French 1957; Thoma and Stewart 1965; Caesar 1968;
Szejtli 1982a; Clarke et al. 1988). However, expensive to produce, the three main
native cyclodextrins, i.e., α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins, were long considered just
laboratory curiosities (Szejtli 1998; Loftsson and Duchêne 2007; Crini 2014).
Indeed, until the mid-1970s, the main obstacle was not only their price but also their
presumed toxicity (French 1957). Another factor traditionally stood in the way of
industrial development was the lack of sufficient knowledge of these molecules. In
addition, very few researchers were convinced of the industrial potential of cyclodextrins (Szejtli 1982a; Duchêne 1987; Hedges 1998; Crini 2014; Morin-Crini et al.
2015; Crini et al. 2018).
Native cyclodextrins were only produced on an industrial scale after 1979 (Szejtli
1982a, 1988a; Duchêne 1987, 1991), and they only really took off in the 1980s with the
G. Crini et al.