CO-CRYSTALLIZATION- A TECHNIQUE FOR SOLUBILITY ENHANCEMENT

Co-crystals consists of API and a stoichiometric amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable co-crystal former. Pharmaceutical Co-crystals are nonionic supramolecular complexes and can be used to address physical property issues such as solubility, stability, and bioavailability in pharmaceutical development without changing the chemical composition of the API. Cocrystal is a crystalline entity formed by two different or more molecular entities where the intermolecular interactions are weak forces like hydrogen bonding and π- π stacking. Super porous systems, biodegradable hydrogel systems. Co-crystallization alters the molecular interactions and composition of pharmaceutical materials and is considered a better alternative to optimize drug properties. Co-crystals offer a different pathway, where any API, regardless of acidic, basic, or ionizable groups, could potentially be co-crystallized. This aspect also helps complement existing methods by reintroducing molecules that had limited pharmaceutical profiles based on their nonionizable functional groups. The article gives a brief review of the co-crystallization, its difference from other states and its importance as an alternative over slat formation. The review also highlights the current FDA notice on Guidance on co-crystallization, the various methods of preparing cocrystals and their characterization. The article also gives a list of the various cocrystals which have been worked on, thus highlighting their importance in the current trend for enhancing various physical, chemical, and pharmacological properties.