Abstract
The prospects of using the organic macrocyclic cavitands cucurbit[\textit{n}]urils (CB[\textit{n}]) and their derivatives in biochemistry, medicine and nanotechnology are considered. A combination of CB[\textit{n}] characteristics, such as a rigid highly symmetrical structure, polarized hydrophilic portals, a rather large intramolecular hydrophobic cavity, as well as high resistance to thermolysis and corrosive media and low toxicity, account for a wide range of unique opportunities for the deliberate design of new functional materials, which may find application in various areas of modern chemistry and new technologies. Inclusion compounds of CB[\textit{n}] with biologically active molecules demonstrate a high potential for the design of a new generation of prolonged action pharmaceuticals. The review presents the prospects for the application of CB[\textit{n}] to manufacture unique materials, such as CB[\textit{n}]-containing vesicles, films and surfaces, suitable for immobilization of various molecules and nanoparticles on their surface and for the separation of complex mixtures. Potential applications of CB[\textit{n}]-modified electrodes and hydrogels are analyzed, and the use of CB[\textit{n}] in proton-conducting materials and materials for the gas sorption and separation are discussed.
The bibliography includes 164 references.