Cocrystals and Drug–Drug Cocrystals of Anticancer Drugs: A Perception towards Screening Techniques, Preparation, and Enhancement of Drug Properties

Abstract

The most favored approach for drug administration is the oral route. Several anticancer drugs come under this category and mostly lack solubility and oral bioavailability, which are the most common causes of inadequate clinical efficiency. Enhancing oral absorption of anticancer drugs with low aqueous solubility and drug impermeability is currently an effective area of research. Many scientists have looked into pharmaceutical cocrystals as a way to improve the physicochemical properties of several anticancer drugs. Benefits of pharmaceutical cocrystals over other solid forms may include improved solubility, bioavailability, and a reduced susceptibility for phase transition. Cocrystal strategy also stands as a green synthesis tool by using very limited organic solvents during its formulation. Having so many advantages, to date, the reported cocrystals and drug–drug cocrystals of anticancer drugs are limited. Here we review the pharmaceutical cocrystals and drug–drug cocrystals of the anticancer drugs reported in the last decade and their future in imaging, and also shed light on the opportunities and challenges for the development of anticancer drug cocrystals.

Advances in Cocrystals of Anticancer Agents: Formulation Strategies and Therapeutic Implications

“…Supramolecular chemistry underpins the synthesis of cocrystals, with hydrogen bonding being the predominant intermolecular bonding motif among most APIs and co-formers. Thus, the choice of the optimal co-former remains pivotal for achieving cocrystals with the desired attributes [26].…”

Role and Recent Advancements of Ionic Liquids in Drug Delivery Systems

“…The failure of the ritonavir capsule product in 1998, which was justified with the help of resolving the crystal structures of the drug, is one of the most well-known instances [ 74 ]. A novel polymorphism structure of the well-known anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil was characterized as an unexpected metastable form [ 75 ]. For the distribution of APIs, pharmaceutical firms generally use solid, mostly crystalline forms because of their purity, thermal stability, simplicity of manufacture, and handling [ 76 ].…”

Salts of Crizotinib with Dicarboxylic Acids: Structural Characteristic, Stability Analysis, and Solubility Performance

“…Multicomponent crystalline substances include solvates, cocrystals, and salts. − For solid pharmaceutical formulations, different solid forms can significantly affect the physicochemical properties of drugs, including solubility, permeability, stability, tablet compression, and so on. Therefore, exploring the most optimal solid form is quite popular in the pharmaceutical industry to improve the physicochemical properties of drugs. − Salt formation has always been considered as one of the most effective solutions to solve the poor solubility problem. , CRI molecule contains a pyridine cation of p K a 9.4 and a piperidine cation of p K a 5.6 (Figure ). Eichner et al patented some solid forms of crizotinib salts, such as the hydrochloride phosphate, acetate, maleate, succinate, and so on.…”