This study investigated the effect on solubility and release of ternary complexes of sulfamerazine (SMR) with beta-(beta CD), methyl-(M beta CD) and hydroxypropyl-P-cyclodextrin (HP beta CD) using meglumine (MEG) as the ternary component. The combination of MEG with M beta CD resulted the best approach, with an increased effect (29-fold) of the aqueous solubility of SMR. The mode of inclusion was supported by 2D NMR, which indicated that real ternary complexes were formed between SMR, MEG and M beta CD or HP beta CD. Solid state analysis was performed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), which demonstrated that different interactions occurred among SMR, MEG and M beta CD or HP beta CD in the ternary lyophilized systems. The ternary complexes with beta CD and M beta CD produced an additional retention effect on the release of SMR compared to the corresponding binary complexes, implying that they were clearly superior in terms of solubility and release modulation. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fondo para la Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica (FONCYT)Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas" (CONICET)Secretaria de Ciencia y Tecnica de la Universidad Nacional de Cordoba (SECyT-UNC)Univ Nacl Cordoba, Fac Ciencias Quim, Dept Farm, Unidad Invest & Desarrollo Ciencia & Tecnol Farma, RA-5000 Cordoba, ArgentinaUniv Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Dept Farm, BR-14800900 Araraquara, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Dept Farm, BR-14800900 Araraquara, SP, BrazilFONCYT: BID1728/OC-AR PICT 1376CONICET: 112 201001 00215SECyT-UNC: Resolucion: 162/12