Preparation, Solubility, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Complex of Diphenylcyclopropenone/β-Cyclodextrin Derivatives as the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

The study developed inclusion complexes of diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) to enhance DPCP's solubility and anti-inflammatory effects for treating alopecia areata. The DPCP/HPβCD complex showed significantly higher solubility (58.4 μg/mL) compared to DPCP/β-CD (17.5 μg/mL) and demonstrated stronger anti-inflammatory activity at lower doses, reducing interferon gamma secretion and providing better protection in UV-irradiated cell experiments. These findings suggest that HPβCD derivatives are more effective in enhancing DPCP's properties, offering a promising approach for alopecia areata treatment without organic solvents. Further in vivo studies are needed to assess safety and pharmacokinetics.