Combined use of cyclodextrins and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose stearoxy ether (Sangelose®) for the preparation of orally disintegrating tablets of type-2 antidiabetes agent glimepiride

Despite recent advances in the formulation of orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs), the efforts to enhance the swallowing of the drug after disintegration have been limited. In this study, the feasibility of the combined use of cyclodextrins (CyDs) and a functional drug carrier, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose stearoxy ether (Sangelose^®) was investigated to improve usability of ODTs. Glimepiride, a potent third generation hypoglycemic agent for type 2 diabetes was used as a model drug, because it is poorly water-soluble and elimination half life is fairly short. The direct compression method was employed for the preparation of glimepiride tablets, containing CyDs and Sangelose^®, and various characteristics of the tablets were examined. In the cases of α-CyD and β-CyD, a short disintegration time with an appropriate hardness was obtained, complying with ODT criteria. On the other hand, γ-CyD, HP-β-CyD and HB-β-CyD increased in the hardness and disintegration time of the tablets. The rheological evaluation revealed that CyDs, except γ-CyD, significantly reduced the viscosity of the fluids after disintegration of the tablets, suggesting an ease of swallowing. This was ascribable to the complexation of the hydrophobic stearoyl moiety of Sangelose^® with CyDs after dissolution, leading to the inhibition of the polymer–polymer interaction of Sangelose^® and to the decrease in viscosity of the solution. The interaction of glimepiride with α- and β-CyDs was studied by the solubility method, demonstrating that glimepiride formed water-soluble complexes with these CyDs. Results obtained here suggested that α-CyD and β-CyD can be particularly useful for the Sangelose^®-based ODT formulation, compared to γ-CyD, HP-β-CyD and HB-β-CyD, because of the short disintegration time of the tablets containing α-CyD and β-CyD, their shear-thinning effect on Sangelose^® solutions and their solubility enhancing effect on the drug.     

Preparation and evaluation of polyamidoamine dendrimer (G2)/branched-��-cyclodextrin conjugate as a novel gene transfer carrier

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential use of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) starburst dendrimer (generation 2, G2) conjugates with 6-O-??-(4-O-??-d-glucuronyl)-d-glucosyl-??-cyclodextrin (GUG-??-CDE (G2)) having glucose as a spacer between dendrimer and cyclodextrin (CyD) as a novel gene transfer carrier. GUG-??-CDE (G2) was found to have lower hemolytic activity than dendrimer (G2), suggesting that GUG-??-CDE (G2) had lower local irritation than dendrimer (G2). Of GUG-??-CDEs (G2) having the various average degree of substitution (DS) of a glucuronylglycoside group, GUG-??-CDE (G2, DS 1.8) possessed much higher gene transfer activity than ??-CDE (G2, DS 1.2) and ??-CDE (G2, DS 1.3) in A549 and RAW264.7 cells, suggesting the crucial role of a spacer between dendrimer and CyD for high gene transfer activity of GUG-??-CDE (G2, DS 1.8). In sharp contrast to linear polyethyleneimine (10 kDa, PEI), GUG-??-CDE (G2, DS 1.8) had negligible cytotoxicity. These results suggest that GUG-??-CDE (G2, DS 1.8) could have the potential for a novel gene transfer carrier, compared to ??-CDE (G2, DS 1.2), ??-CDE (G2, DS 1.3) and PEI.     

Effect of 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin on Release Rate of Metoprolol from Ternary Metoprolol/2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin/Ethylcellulose Tablets

The effect of 2-hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrin (HP--CyD) on the release of a water-soluble ₁-selective adrenoreceptor antagonist, metoprolol (Met), from ternary Met/HP--CyD/ethylcellulose (EC) tablets was investigated. The release rate of Met from the ternary tablets was dependent on amounts of HP--CyD in the tablets, i.e., the rate decreased when small amounts of HP--CyD were added, while large amounts of HP--CyD accelerated the rate. The slowest rate was observed for the tablet consisted of a 30/10/60 weight ratio of Met/HP--CyD/EC. The analyses of the release rates by the Korsmeyer equation and their temperature dependence suggested that Met is released from the EC matrix containing HP--CyD according to the diffusion-controlled mechanism. The water penetration studies and the micro- and macroscopic observations suggested that the retarding effect of HP--CyD is attributable to a viscous gel formation in small pores on the surface of the tablets, where HP--CyD gels may work as a barrier for the water penetration into the tablets and the release of the drug from the tablets. The in-vitro release property of the ternary tablets was reflected in the in-vivo absorption profile in dogs. The results indicated that a combination of HP--CyD and EC is useful for the release control of water-soluble drugs such as Met.     

Recent Aspects of Pharmaceutical Application of Cyclodextrins

Because of the multi-functional characteristics and bioadaptability, cyclodextrin (CyD) is capable of alleviating the undesirable properties of drug molecules through the formation of inclusion complexes. This paper outlines the current application of natural and chemically modified CyDs in the various pharmaceutical formulations including peptide and protein drugs. Furthermore, potential use of CyD/drug conjugates in site-specific drug delivery is discussed.     

Model Analysis for Oral Absorption of a Drug/Cyclodextrin Complex Involving Competitive Inclusion Complexes

The bioavailability parameters of a drug after oral administration of a preparation containing drug/CyD complexes may be modified by formation of competitive inclusion complexes. In this study, we examined the effects of competitors on drug permeation from its CyD complex through in-vitro artificial membranes and in-situ recirculation conditions, for comparison with the results under in-vivo conditions in the bile duct of cannulated rats. Phenacetin, an antipyretic, was used as a model drug, natural CyDs and maltosyl--CyD as host molecules, and benzoic acid derivatives, sodium taurocholate and acetaminophen as competitors. The in-vitro cellophane membrane permeation rate and the in-situ absorption rate of phenacetin were quantitatively predicted by theoretical calculation using the stability constants of drug/CyD and competitor/CyD complexes when CyD weakly interacts with membrane components in lower CyD concentrations (generally below 10 mM). The in-vivo absorption behavior was only qualitatively reproducible by the theoretical calculation, probably because of various physicochemical and physiological factors affecting the absorption. The present results may be useful not only for prediction of intestinal absorption of drugs from CyD preparations, but also for formulation design of CyD preparations containing multi-components.     

Improvement in biopharmaceutics of prednisolone by β- and γ-cyclodextrins

Inclusion complexes of prednisolone with - and -cyclodextrins in the molar ratio of 1:2 and 2:3, respectively, were prepared, and their dissolutions, permeations through a cellophane membrane, releases from a suppository base, andin vivo absorption behaviors were examined. The apparent rates of dissolution and permeation of prednisolone were significantly increased by the formations of inclusion complexes with - and -cyclodextrins. The release of the drug from Witepsol H₁₅ suppositories was also increased by complexation. The serum levels of prednisolone following oral and rectal administrations of the cyclodextrin complexes to rabbits were higher than those of the drug alone. The enhanced initial absorption of prednisolone by cyclodextrin complexation suggested the possibility of smaller doses in prednisolone therapy.     

Prostaglandins and their cyclodextrin complexes

Generally, prostaglandins (PG) are unstable and insoluble in water, though they exhibit strong biological activities in minute amount. The most difficult problem in developing PG preparations is how to stabilize and solubilize PG without loss of their activities. We have successfully developed the pharmaceutical preparations contaning PG complexes with cyclodextrins (CD). These preparations are already on the market, namely PGE₂ ·-CD Tablet and PGE₁ ·-CD Injection. Moreover, PG and PGI₂ derivatives are now under development as a form of CD complex.     

Crystal structures of cyclodextrin complexes with chiral molecules

The chiral recognition by cyclodextrins and permethylated cyclodextrins have been investigated on the basis of the X-ray data of crystalline inclusion complexes. The macrocyclic ring of - and -cyclodextrin shows a round and symmetrical structure. -Cyclodextrin includes racemic 1-phenylethanol with the statistical disorder of the hydroxyl group. A pair of the R- and S-isomers of flurbiprofen are included within the cylindrical cavity formed by dimeric -cyclodextrin molecules with a head-to-head arrangement. The macrocyclic ring of permethylated cyclodextrins is remarkably distorted from the regular polygonal symmetry and has more flexibility in the conformational change than cyclodextrins. Owing to the distorted conformation and steric hindrance involving methyl groups, permethylated cyclodextrins do not equally include both isomers, as demonstrated by the permethylated -cyclodextrin complexes with mandelic acids. Permethylated -cyclodextrin binds D-mandelic acid more tightlyvia a host-guest hydrogen bond and induced-fit conformational change. Permethylated -cyclodextrin forms a hydrated crystalline complex with R-flurbiprofen, but S-flurbiprofen forms a non-hydrated crystalline complex. Significant differences between the two complexes are found in the orientation of the phenyl group and hydrogen-bond formation involving the carboxyl group.