CYCLODEXTRINS - THEIR FUTURE IN DRUG FORMULATION AND DELIVERY

Since their discovery, cyclodextrins and their ability to form inclusi on complexes have fascinated chemists, formulators and recently, entre preneurs. This mini-review has as its objective, a critical assessment of the current status of cyclodextrins in the formulation and deliver y of pharmaceuticals and commentary on their potential future uses. Th e emphasis will be on answers to common questions often asked of pharm aceutical scientists working in this area. Why use cyclodextrins for d rug solubilization and stabilization when alternative techniques are a vailable? Why the greater interest in modified cyclodextrins and not t he parent cyclodextrins? If a drug forms a strong cyclodextrin inclusi on complex, how is the drug released in vivo? Does the injection of a cyclodextrin/drug complex alter the pharmacokinetics of the drug? Are there drug products on the market which contain cyclodextrins? What is the regulatory status of cyclodextrins? Although definitive answers t o all these questions are not possible at this time, many of these que stions are answerable, and educated and informed responses are possibl e for the rest.