Liposomes encapsulating prednisolone and prednisolone-cyclodextrin complexes: comparison of membrane integrity and drug release.

Inclusion complexes of prednisolone (PR) with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and hydropropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPbeta-CD) were formed by the solvation method, and were characterized by DSC, X-ray diffractometry and FT-IR spectroscopy. PC liposomes incorporating PR as plain drug or inclusion complex were prepared using the dehydration-rehydration method and drug entrapment as well as drug release were estimated for all liposome types prepared. The highest PR entrapment value (80% of the starting material) was achieved for PC/Chol liposomes when the HPbeta-CD-PR (2:1, mol/mol) complex was entrapped.