Recently, increasing attention has been paid to beads, an innovative self-assembled drug delivery system prepared from cyclodextrins and oils.  Beads are new core-shell minispheres containing poorly water- soluble drugs or lipophilic drugs dissolved in the lipid core without the use of organic solvents and surfactants.  Therefore, beads with high drug loading and improved oral bioavailability have great potential for oral delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs and lipophilic drugs.  The preparation mechanisms, formulations and methods, the in vitro and in vivo properties of beads were reviewed in order to provide the theoretical basis for further application of beads.