Review Articles

2020  |  Vol: 6(6)  |  Issue: 6 (November-December)  |  https://doi.org/10.31024/ajpp.2020.6.6.7

Co-crystal: A pharmaceutical technique to improve physical characteristics of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient

Reetu Yadav¹*, Ashutosh Kumar Yadav¹, Anita Singh²

¹K.R. Mangalam University, Sohna Road, Gurugram, Haryana 122103 India

²Sunderdeep Pharmacy College, NH-24, Delhi-Hapur Road, Dasna, Ghaziabad-201015 (U.P) India

*Address for Corresponding Author

Reetu Yadav

K.R. Mangalam University, Sohna Road, Gurugram, Haryana 122103 India

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Abstract

Co-crystal is defined as a material which contains two or more discrete molecular entities in the crystal structure. Co-crystals of many compounds are known for years in solid state chemistry. Pharmaceutical co-crystals are important because they can improve many properties of the parent API like solubility, dissolution rate, stability, crystallinity and many more. Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) of drugs classifies drugs into four major categories based on their solubility and permeability behavior. BCS Class II and Class IV drugs suffer from poor aqueous solubility. Co-crystallization enhances solubility of BCS class II and class IV drug, in addition to BCS of drugs. The aim of this review is to present an extensive overview of the co-crystallization methods, focusing in the specificities of each technique, its advantages and disadvantages.

Keywords: Cocrystal, solubility enhancement, co-crystallization method