Effect of dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin on nitrazepam stability

Nitrazepam was found to form an inclusion complex with heptakis; 2,6 di-O-methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (DM-beta-CD) in solution. The phase solubility diagram was found to be AL type with no precipitation of the inclusion complex formed. The kinetic studies of nitrazepam hydrolysis in DM-beta-CD solution at 30, 40 and 50 degrees C was followed spectrophotometrically, as the degradation products of the drug did not interfere with such assay. It was found that the degradation of nitrazepam in acidic media followed the first order reaction kinetics at the temperatures studied. Inclusion complexation of nitrazepam in DM-beta-CD resulted in a relatively improved stability of the drug in solution at 30 degrees C. On the other hand, no appreciable stabilization was achieved at higher temperatures (40 and 50 degrees C).