Solid solutions could represent
a viable alternative to better understand and control structure–property
relationships of drugs, in order to optimize their properties for
practical applications. Lamivudine (3TC) and emtricitabine (FTC) are
nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor antiretroviral
drugs, which have similar molecular structures, differing by a single
fluorine atom, which is only present in the FTC molecule. Due to these
similarities in structure and molecular resemblances, lamivudine and
emtricitabine are good candidates for producing a solid solution with
physicochemical properties controlled by the stoichiometry. Following
this hypothesis, the formation of a nonconventional solid solution
was verified, whose crystalline structure is not defined by any of
the individual constituents but by the one of the lamivudine hydrate
with emtricitabine as a solute. The crystalline structures of two
members of the solid solution were determined showing a nonuniform
distribution of the solute among the independent molecules of the
asymmetric unit of the lamivudine hydrate structure. Thermal analysis
investigations confirmed that physicochemical properties could be
controlled through the variation of the emtricitabine content.
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