Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) Microscopy Visualizes Pharmaceutical Tablets During Dissolution
Published on: July 4, 2014
The role of cocrystals in pharmaceutical science
Ning Shan1, Michael J Zaworotko
1Thar Pharmaceuticals Inc., 3802 Spectrum Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. nshan@tharpharma.com
Abstract:
Pharmaceutical cocrystals, a subset of a long known but little-studied class of compounds, represent an emerging class of crystal forms in the context of pharmaceutical science. They are attractive to pharmaceutical scientists because they can significantly diversify the number of crystal forms that exist for a particular active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), and they can lead to improvements in physical properties of clinical relevance. In this article we address pharmaceutical cocrystals from the perspective of design (crystal engineering) and present a series of case studies that demonstrate how they can enhance the solubility, bioavailability, and/or stability of API crystal forms.
Related Concept Videos
Factors Affecting Dissolution: Polymorphism, Amorphism and Pseudopolymorphism
Some polymorphic crystals possess lower aqueous solubility than their amorphous counterparts, leading to incomplete absorption. For instance, the oral suspension of Chloramphenicol, which...
Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Polymorphic Form-Related and Particle Size-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence
Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics: Overview
Drug Product Performance: In Vitro–In Vivo Correlation
Biopharmaceutical Factors Influencing Drug Product Design: Overview
Factors Affecting Dissolution: Drug Permeability, Stability and Stereochemistry

