ABSTRACT
The inclusion complexes of poorly water-soluble cephalosporin, cefuroxime axetil (CFA), were prepared with ß-cyclodextrin (ßCD) with or without addition of l-arginine (ARG) to improve its physicochemical properties. We also investigated the effect of ARG on complexation efficiency (CE) of ßCD towards CFA in an aqueous medium through phase solubility behaviour according to Higuchi and Connors. Although phase solubility studies showed AL (linear) type of solubility curve in presence and absence of ARG, the CE and association constant (Ks) of ßCD towards CFA were significantly promoted in presence of ARG, justifying its use as a ternary component. The solid systems of CFA with ßCD were obtained by spray drying technique with or without incorporation of ARG and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and saturation solubility and dissolution studies. The molecular modeling studies provided a better insight into geometry and inclusion mode of CFA inside ßCD cavity. The solubility and dissolution rate of CFA were significantly improved upon complexation with ßCD as compared to CFA alone. However, ternary system incorporated with ARG performed better than binary system in physicochemical evaluation. In conclusion, ARG could be exploited as a ternary component to improve the physicochemical properties of CFA via ßCD complexation.
