Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) on the solubility and dissolution rate of meloxicam. The methods that were employed to prepare meloxicam-beta-cyclodextrin complexes were physical mixture, kneaded dispersion, and spray drying. Spray drying method was found to be the best to form a true inclusion complex. Complexes were characterized by thermal analysis, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The apparent stability constant of the complex, K (c), calculated from the slope and intercept of the A(L) solubility diagram was found to be 429.73, 259.96, 183.31, and 36.50 L mol(-1) at pH 2, 3, 6.5, and 10.3, respectively. The dissolution rate of meloxicam from the complexes was higher than from meloxicam alone. Molecular modeling was also used to investigate the interaction between meloxicam and beta-CD. The dominant driving force for the complexation was evidently Van der Waals force with very little electrostatic contribution.