THERMAL-BEHAVIOR AND DISSOLUTION PROPERTIES OF NAPROXEN IN COMBINATIONS WITH CHEMICALLY MODIFIED BETA-CYCLODEXTRINS

Binary systems of naproxen with statistically-alkylated beta-cyclodextrins (methyl, hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl derivatives) were investigated for both solid phase characterization (differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction) and dissolution properties (dispersed amount and rotating disc methods). Kneading, coevaporation and colyophilization of the 1:1 (mol/mol) naproxen/methyl beta-cyclodextrin combination, as well as colyophilization of analogous combinations of naproxen with hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin, led to amorphous products with higher dissolution rates than the corresponding physical mixtures. A conversion of crystalline to amorphous naproxen was also observed by heating the physical mixtures at about 393 K. The amorphous statistically-alkylated beta-cyclodextrins, in particular methyl beta-cyclodextrin, can be employed as amorphizing agents for crystalline naproxen.