Fosinopril-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes: phase solubility and physicochemical analysis

Fosinopril is one of the most hydrophobic substances among the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, exhibiting low water solubility and poor bioavailability following oral administration. Inclusion complexes between the drug substance and cyclodextrins (CDs) were obtained in order to improve its solubility. The purpose of this study was to investigate the guest-host interaction of fosinopril sodium (FOS) with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and its derivative, randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin (RAMEB) in solution by phase solubility diagrams (PSD) and in solid state by using thermal analysis, powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The phase solubility analysis indicated that the solubility of FOS in simulated gastric fluid was increased in the presence of CDs and revealed for RAMEB an AL-type diagram, suggesting the formation of a 1:1 inclusion complex, and for β-CD a BS-type phase diagram. The estimated apparent stability constant (K1:1), according to the Higuchi and Connors method, is 3209.99 M−1 and 1770.34 M−1 for RAMEB and β-CD complexes respectively. The binary systems FOS/CDs were prepared using the kneading method in the molar ratio 1:1. The PXRD patterns and the thermograms indicated a drug amorphization process, higher for FOS/RAMEB binary system and the FTIR analysis suggested that the ester group of FOS is probably enclosed in the CD's cavity. The results of this study confirm the formation of inclusion complexes both in solution and in solid state and suggest that the complexes formation between FOS and CDs could improve the bioavailability of the drug due to the enhancing absorption expected from increased drug solubility.