title: Development of cyclodextrin hydrogels for vaginal delivery of dehydroepiandrosterone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a new vaginal delivery system for a sustained release of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms, aimed to overcome the problems of poor bioavailability of the drug related to its very low water solubility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cyclodextrin (CD)-containing hydrogels were developed, combining in a single device the hydrogel controlled release and mucoadhesion properties, and the CD solubilizing power towards DHEA. The effect of different CDs, alone or in mixtures, on the hydrogel technological and mucoadhesion characteristics was investigated. The best formulations were loaded with DHEA and characterized for loading efficiency and release properties.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hydrogels based on HPβCD/γCD (15/10%w/w) or HPβCD/HP γCD (30/20%w/w) combinations proved to be the most effective, giving ovules with the desired mechanical and mucoadhesive properties. Both formulations showed high drug loading efficiency, due to the solubilizing effect of CDs, and provided a sustained in-situ release, with a rate suitably tunable by varying the drug loaded amount and/or the CD combination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed formulative strategy allowed to develop an intravaginal device with right consistency and elasticity, easy to apply, able to be retained in situ over 8 h, and to provide an effective DHEA loading and a tunable release rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Natascia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mennini
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casella
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cirri
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maestrelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mura
mesh_terms: D000073738:2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin; D000268:Adhesiveness; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004339:Drug Compounding; D020100:Hydrogels; D007700:Kinetics; D012995:Solubility; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry*; D047408:gamma-Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins; D047408:gamma-Cyclodextrins; D000073738:2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone
keywords: cyclodextrin hydrogels; dehydroepiandrosterone; ethyleneglycol diglycidyletere; in-situ vaginal delivery; mucoadhesion properties; sustained release