PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND DISSOLUTION OF NORFLOXACIN/CYCLODEXTRIN INCLUSION-COMPOUNDS AND PEG SOLID DISPERSIONS

Increase in the poor water solubility and dissolution rate of norfloxacin was studied. Two systems were used: solid dispersion with PEG 6000 prepared using the fusion method and inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins (beta-cyclodextrin and HP-beta-cyclodextrin) obtained by freeze-drying. IR spectrophotometry, X-ray diffractometry, and differential scanning calorimetry showed differences between norfloxacin/cyclodextrin complexes and their corresponding physical mixtures, but not between norfloxacin/PEG 6000 solid dispersions and their corresponding physical mixtures. The solubility and dissolution rate of norfloxacin were significantly increased with PEG solid dispersions and cyclodextrin complexes as well as with norfloxacin-CD physical mixtures. However, enhancement was not statistically different either among various cyclodextrin complexes, or between solid dispersions and cyclodextrin complexes.