Study of branched cationic beta-cyclodextrin polymer/indomethacin complex and its release profile from alginate hydrogel.

A series of branched cationic beta-cyclodextrin polymers (CPbetaCDs) with designed chemical structures were synthesized from beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), epichlorohydrin (EP) and choline chloride (CC). Indomethacin (IDM), an anionic drug, was chosen as a model drug to evaluate the drug loading capacities of CPbetaCDs. The formation of IDM-CPbetaCD complex was confirmed by (1)H NMR and DSC. Phase solubility studies and Job plots indicated that CPbetaCDs can solubilize IDM up to 100 times of its intrinsic solubility in a 1:1 complexation form. Mechanism studies with the help of adamantane revealed that the effective complexation is a combination of inclusion complexation, charge interaction and hydrophobic interaction. In addition, IDM-CPbetaCDs loaded alginate hydrogels were prepared and obtained controllable release profile in dissolution tests. The tunable structures of CPbetaCDs make them promising drug carriers with superior drug loading capacities and controllable drug release abilities.