Inclusion complexes of chlorzoxazone with β- and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin: Characterization, dissolution, and cytotoxicity

This study aimed to improve the water solubility and reduce the toxicity of chlorzoxazone via complexation with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD). Inclusion complexes between chlorzoxazone and the two cyclodextrins (CDs) were prepared by freeze-drying method. Formation of the complexes was confirmed by FT-IR, PXRD, 1H NMR, DSC, and SEM. The water solubility and dissolution rates of chlorzoxazone were significantly increased by complexation with the two CDs. Preliminary in vitro cytotoxicity tests showed that the complexes are less toxic to normal liver cells than free chlorzoxazone. In general, the HP-β-CD complex exhibited better dissolution properties than the β-CD complex in various dissolution media. Therefore, the HP-β-CD complex can be used to design novel formulations of chlorzoxazone.