When Cyclodextrins Met Data Science: Unveiling Their Pharmaceutical Applications through Network Science and...

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Cyclodextrins (CDs) are widely utilized in pharmaceuticals, primarily for enhancing drug solubility.
• Understanding patenting trends is crucial for identifying emerging pharmaceutical technologies and innovation opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply a data-driven approach using network science and text mining to analyze pharmaceutical patents of cyclodextrins.
• To identify key applications, formulation trends, and emerging technologies related to cyclodextrins in drug development.

Main Methods:

• Network science techniques were employed to map and analyze a dataset of cyclodextrin pharmaceutical patents.
• Unsupervised keyword detection and text-mining were used to identify patenting trends in CD-based dosage forms and therapeutic areas.

Main Results:

• Cyclodextrin patents formed complex networks, highlighting their importance in solubility enhancement and diverse applications.
• Significant trends were observed in the formulation of aqueous solutions, tablets, and powders using cyclodextrins.
• Emerging applications include anti-inflammatory, cancer, and antiviral therapies, with gels showing promise and patches/fibers emerging.

Conclusions:

• Cyclodextrins are pivotal in pharmaceutical formulations, particularly for solubility enhancement, driving innovation in drug delivery.
• Current trends indicate growth in solid and liquid dosage forms, with significant potential in emerging areas like suspensions and emulsions.
• This data-mining approach provides a comprehensive landscape of cyclodextrin technologies, identifying key opportunities for future research and development.