Photoinduced Controlled-Release Drug Delivery Systems for Applications in Nanomedicine

The recent progress on controlled-release drug delivery systems with cyclodextrins as functional groups and their applications in nanomedicine are reviewed. As one of the most famous supramolecular host candidates, cyclodextrins with small guest molecules are extensively employed in controlled-release drug delivery systems in nanomedicine fields. The host-guest interactions between cyclodextrins and the guest molecules can be triggered by various stimulations, including temperature, light, pH, etc. In this review, we will focus on the cyclodextrin-based controlled-release systems mainly triggered by light. The comparison between photo-responsive and other controlled-release drug delivery systems is also discussed.