β-Cyclodextrin-Silver Nanoparticles Inclusion Complexes: Insights into Applications in Trace Level Detection (Light-Driven and Electrochemical Assays) and Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

The inclusion complex formation of β-cyclodextrin/silver nanoparticles uses superior optical, electrical, and structural properties of AgNPs and the singular hydrophobic cage/hydrophilic external surface of the β-cyclodextrin, enabling several properties such as controlled aggregation degree, scattering of light, and adsorption of species. Consequently, several applications are favored, ranging from antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents to analyte trace detectors based on fluorescence, scattering of light, and electrochemical responses as single or combined multimode sensing elements. Herein, applications based on guest–host complexes are discussed, focusing on the potential and limitations of each technique in developing highly sensitive and low-cost templates for identification, adsorption, and quantification of different target systems. The potential of multisensing templates and electroenhanced antibacterial supports for AgNPs/β-CD incorporation is discussed as a promising strategy to reach outstanding performance for sensors and active antibacterial sensors.