In this study, corticosteroid-β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) inclusion complexes were prepared by using supercritical antisolvent (SAS) precipitation to enhance the dissolution rate of dexamethasone (DEX) and prednisolone (PRED), which are poorly water soluble drugs. The processing of the active principles in the absence of a carrier led to their almost complete extraction (the small amount of obtained material precipitates in the form of crystals). The coprecipitation of the ingredients in the presence of β-CD was investigated at different concentrations, pressures, and molar ratios. For both the corticosteroids, the optimized operating conditions were 40 °C, 120 bar, an equimolar ratio, and a concentration in DMSO of 20 mg/mL; these conditions led to the attainment of microparticles with mean diameters equal to 0.197 ± 0.180 μm and 0.131 ± 0.070 μm in the case of DEX and PRED, respectively. Job's method confirmed the formation of inclusion complexes with a 1/1 mol/mol ratio. Compared to the pure ingredients, the obtained powders have an improved release rate, which is about three times faster in both cases. The release curves obtained under the best operating conditions were fitted using different models. The best fitting was obtained using the Weibull model, whose parameters are compatible with a combined release mechanism involving Fickian diffusion and controlled release.
Keywords: SAS micronization; controlled release; corticosteroid; inclusion complex; supercritical antisolvent; supercritical carbon dioxide; β-cyclodextrin.