Pharmaceutical Cocrystals: New Solid Phase Modification Approaches for the Formulation of APIs
Anna Karagianni1, Maria Malamatari2, Kyriakos Kachrimanis3
1Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54351 Thessaloniki, Greece. karagiak@pharm.auth.gr.
Pharmaceutics
|January 26, 2018
Summary
Pharmaceutical cocrystals offer a crystal engineering strategy to improve drug properties when other methods fail. This review covers cocrystal interactions, preparation, and their potential in drug development.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Science
- Crystal Engineering
- Drug Development
Background:
- Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) often require property enhancement.
- Salt and polymorph formation may not achieve desired targets.
- Cocrystals provide an alternative crystal engineering approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of pharmaceutical cocrystals.
- To emphasize intermolecular interactions and preparation methods.
- To discuss cocrystals of pharmaceutical interest and their characterization.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on pharmaceutical cocrystals.
- Analysis of intermolecular interactions within cocrystals.
- Discussion of preparation techniques for cocrystals.
- Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo data for pharmaceutical cocrystals.
Main Results:
- Cocrystals enhance physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of APIs.
- Intermolecular interactions are key to cocrystal formation and function.
- Various preparation methods exist for cocrystals.
- Cocrystals show promise in drug development with available in vitro and in vivo data.
Conclusions:
- Cocrystals are a viable strategy for improving drug properties.
- Understanding intermolecular interactions is crucial for designing cocrystals.
- Cocrystals offer an attractive route for pharmaceutical development.
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