The present application provides polyanionic and non-ionic cyclodextrin-based compounds, and methods of manufacturing them. The compounds comprise a negatively-charged or neutral moiety (and, for polyanionic compounds, a suitable counter cation), one or more linkers, optionally one or more bridging groups, a cyclodextrin, and one or more substituents on the cyclodextrin. The compounds can be used in pharmaceutical compositions, and as excipients or carriers of guest molecules.