title: Complexation of the sunscreen agent, phenylbenzimidazole sulphonic acid with cyclodextrins: effect on stability and photo-induced free radical formation.
abstract: The interaction between the sunscreen agent, phenylbenzimidazole sulphonic acid (PBSA) and hydrophilic alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrin derivatives was investigated under acidic conditions (pH 4.0) by phase-solubility analysis. Among the available cyclodextrins, hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) and random methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (RM-beta-CD) had the greatest solubilizing activity. The complexation of the sunscreen agent with HP-beta-CD and RM-beta-CD was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Solid-phase characterization of the PBSA/cyclodextrin systems by X-ray diffractometry defined the most appropriate method (co-evaporation) and cyclodextrin concentration (10-fold molar excess) for the preparation of a stable complexed form of PBSA. Long-term stability studies demonstrated that the decrease of the sunscreen level in emulsion preparations (pH 4.0) was almost completely suppressed by HP-beta-CD, RM-beta-CD being less effective. Moreover, the irradiation-induced decomposition of PBSA in the emulsion vehicle was markedly reduced by complexation with HP-beta-CD (the extent of degradation was 3.9% for the complex compared to 9.1% for uncomplexed PBSA), whereas RM-beta-CD had no significant influence. In addition, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin-trapping studies showed that the inclusion of the sunscreen agent into the HP-beta-CD cavity completely inhibited the formation of free-radicals generated by PBSA on exposure to simulated sunlight, thereby suppressing its photosensitising potential.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44100 Ferrara, Italy. sls@unife.it
authors.forename: Santo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scalia
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casolari
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maldotti
mesh_terms: D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D005609:Free Radicals; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D001562:Benzimidazoles; D003505:Cyclodextrins; D005609:Free Radicals; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; C499767:ensulizole; C031000:benzimidazole