Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin increases the aqueous solubility and stability of pilocarpine prodrugs

Abstract

Purpose: The effects of 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) on the aqueous solubility and stability of two lipophilic bispilocarpine prodrugs were investigated at pH 7.4.

Methods: The solubility of prodrugs was studied by phase-solubility method (0-72.5 mM HP-beta-CD). The stability of one of the prodrugs was investigated as a function of temperature (40 degrees C-70 degrees C) and HP-beta-CD concentration (0-72.5 mM). The apparent rate constants (k1, k2) for degradation of prodrug in 1:1 and 1:2 inclusion complexes and apparent stability constants (K1:1, K1:2) were calculated by the curve-fitting method.

Results: The phase-solubility diagrams were classified as Ap-type and the apparent stability constants (K1:1, K1:2) for 1:1- and 1:2-inclusion complexes were calculated to be 143-815 M-1 and 29-825 M-1, respectively. The stability of prodrug increased as a function of HP-beta-CD concentration over the studied temperature range. The shelf-life (t90%, calculated by the Arrhenius equation) of the prodrug in 72.5 mM HP-beta-CD solution increased 5.1-fold and 6.1-fold at 25 degrees C and 4 degrees C, respectively.

Conclusions: The solubility of the prodrugs was shown to increase markedly in phase-solubility studies. The degradation rate of prodrug in stability studies was shown to be slower in the 1:2-complex than in the 1:1-complex and the relative amounts of complex species were found to be dependent on CD concentration.