Improvement of some pharmaceutical properties of drugs by cyclodextrin complexation. 5. Theophylline.

The interaction of theophylline (TPH) with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) was investigated by spectrophotometry, vapour pressure osmometry and DSC. The results revealed a molecular interaction between TPH and beta-CD. The continuous variation method was used to elucidate the stoichiometry of such an interaction by spectrophotometric as well as vapour pressure measurements. Both types of data revealed the formation of two-to-one TPH/beta-CD complex. The stability constant of the complex was determined at different temperatures by the vapour pressure osmometric method. The enthalpy and entropy of the interaction were evaluated and the results indicate the liberation of little heat during complexation and the disorder of the guest molecule upon complexation. The effect of beta-CD on the solubility of TPH indicates that beta-CD exhibits a definite solubilizing effect towards the drug with a typical Bs isotherm. The stability constant of the complex and the amount of drug solubilized in the form of complex reveal that complex-formation is the only factor governing the solubilizing effect of beta-CD towards the drug. The dissolution rates of TPH, TPH/beta-CD physical mixture as well as the prepared complex were determined according to U.S.P. method and at pH 1.2. In both cases, the dissolution profile of the complex reveals enhanced dissolution properties compared to the drug. The effect of beta-CD on the partition properties of TPH reveals decrease in presence of beta-CD. The effect of beta-CD on the bioavailability of TPH was investigated in human subjects. A clear difference in the biological performance between the drug and the complex was revealed. The pharmacokinetic parameters including Cmax, tmax, Cmin, t1/2, Ke, MRT and AUC revealed that inclusion complexation of theophylline in B-cyclodextrin results in not only an improvement in the bioavailability of the drug, but also to acquired sustained release properties for the drug.