Cyclodextrins are glucose macrocycles whose inclusional capabilities towards non-polar solutes can be modulated with the help of other macrostructures. The incorporation of cyclodextrin moieties into larger structures produces five types of new materials: crosslinked networks, functionalized chains, amphiphilic cyclodextrins, polyrotaxanes and nanocomposites. This review presents crosslinking and grafting to prepare covalently-attached cyclodextrins, and applications in the food and pharmaceutical sectors, from an historical point of view. In food science, applications include debittering of juices, retention of aromas and release of preservatives from packaging. In biomedical science, cyclodextrin polymers are applied classically to drug release, and more recently to gene delivery and regenerative medicine. The remarkable points are: 1) epichlorohydrin and diisocyanates have been extensively used as crosslinkers since the 1960s, but during the last two decades more complex cyclodextrin polymeric structures have been designed. 2) The evolution of cyclodextrin polymers matches that of macromolecular materials with regard to complexity, functionality and capabilities. 3) The use of cyclodextrin polymers as sorbents in the food sector came first, but smart packaging is now an active challenge. Cyclodextrins have also been recently used to design treatments against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

环糊精是葡萄糖大环化合物，其对非极性溶质的包合能力可以在其他宏观结构的帮助下进行调节。将环糊精部分结合到更大的结构中会产生五种类型的新材料：交联网络、功能化链、两亲性环糊精、聚轮烷和纳米复合材料。本综述从历史的角度介绍了制备共价连接环糊精的交联和接枝方法，以及在食品和制药领域的应用。在食品科学中，应用包括去除果汁的苦味、保留香气和从包装中释放防腐剂。在生物医学科学中，环糊精聚合物经典地应用于药物释放，最近还应用于基因传递和再生医学。值得注意的点是：1) 自 1960 年代以来，表氯醇和二异氰酸酯已被广泛用作交联剂，但在过去的二十年中，设计了更复杂的环糊精聚合物结构。2) 环糊精聚合物的发展在复杂性、功能性和能力方面与大分子材料的发展相匹配。3）首先在食品领域使用环糊精聚合物作为吸附剂，但智能包装现在是一个积极的挑战。环糊精最近也被用于设计针对 2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 的治疗方法。2) 环糊精聚合物的发展在复杂性、功能性和能力方面与大分子材料的发展相匹配。3）首先在食品领域使用环糊精聚合物作为吸附剂，但智能包装现在是一个积极的挑战。环糊精最近也被用于设计针对 2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 的治疗方法。2) 环糊精聚合物的发展在复杂性、功能性和能力方面与大分子材料的发展相匹配。3）首先在食品领域使用环糊精聚合物作为吸附剂，但智能包装现在是一个积极的挑战。环糊精最近也被用于设计针对 2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 的治疗方法。