Solubilizing effect of the p-phosphonate calix[n]arenes towards poorly soluble drug molecules such as nifedipine, niclosamide and furosemide

This article reports the solubilization of the practically water insoluble drug molecules such as nifedipine, niclosamide and furosemide by guest:host inclusion complexation with p-phosphonates calix[n]arenes as drug soluble agent. This complexation studies were carried out by using the phase solubility technique. From the obtained results, it was observed that the solubility of drug molecules was significantly increased in the presence of calix[n]arene host molecules. The increase in solubility of drugs by the calix[n]arene was most probably due to inclusion complexation between drug molecules and cavities of the calixarene skeleton similar to drug:cyclodextrin complexes.