Inclusion complexes of fluorofenidone with β-cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

Background: Fluorofenidone is a novel antifibrotic drug and its aqueous solubility is low. Aim: This study was to prepare and characterize inclusion complexes of fluorofenidone (AKF-PD) with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD). Method: The AKF-PD/cyclodextrins (CDs) inclusion complexes were prepared by coprecipitation and freeze-drying, respectively. The solubility enhancement of AKF-PD was evaluated by phase solubility method. Inclusion complexation in solid phase was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The dissolution profiles of AKF-PD/CDs inclusion complexes were investigated and compared with those of their physical mixtures and AKF-PD alone. Results: The phase solubility diagrams of AKF-PD with β-CD and HP-β-CD were of A_L-types, and the solubility of AKF-PD could be increased by 51.5% for β-CD at 0.014 M and 794.0% for HP-β-CD at 0.254 M. The results from XRD and DTA suggested that AKF-PD could form inclusion complex with β-CD or HP-β-CD. The dissolution rate of AKF-PD from the inclusion complexes was much more rapid than AKF-PD alone. Conclusions: The formulation of AKF-PD/CDs inclusion complexes showed superior performance in improving dissolution properties of AKF-PD.