Molecular Inclusion Complexes of β-Cyclodextrin Derivatives Enhance Aqueous Solubility and Cellular Internalization of Paclitaxel: Preformulation and In vitro Assessments

Drugs with low aqueous solubility and permeability possess substantial challenges in designing effective and safe formulations. Synergistic solubility and permeability enhancement in a simple formulation can increase bioavailability and efficacy of such drugs. To overcome limitations of the clinical formulation of Taxol®, Paclitaxel (PTX) was reformulated with various β-cyclodextrin(CD) derivatives suitable for parenteral administration.Results indicated that β-CDs can efficiently form complexes with PTX at lower molar ratios, enhance aqueous solubility up to 500 times and improved cellular internalization of PTX. All β-CD derivatives were found to be safe as excipient since none showed detectable signs of cyto-genotoxicity. As a result, the CD-PTX complexes significantly increased the cytotoxicity of the drug. The study concluded that CD-PTX formulations could substitute the current intravenous infusion of PTX obviating the use of non-inert excipient Cremophor EL.