The effect of 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin on in vitro drug release of steroids from suppository bases.

The effects of 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) on drug solubility and drug release from suppository bases were studied for dexamethasone (DX), dexamethasone acetate (DXA), hydrocortisone (HC), hydrocortisone acetate (HCA), and prednisolone acetate (PNA). It was found that HPCD significantly increased the aqueous solubility of all five steroids, and the increased drug solubility significantly influenced the drug release from the polyethylene glycol (PEG) base but not from the cocoa butter base.