Polymorph Impact on the Bioavailability and Stability of Poorly Soluble Drugs

Drugs with low water solubility are predisposed to poor and variable oral bioavailability and, therefore, to variability in clinical response, that might be overcome through an appropriate formulation of the drug. Polymorphs (anhydrous and solvate/hydrate forms) may resolve these bioavailability pro...

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Main Authors: Roberta Censi, Piera Di Martino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-10-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/10/18759
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author Roberta Censi
Piera Di Martino
author_facet Roberta Censi
Piera Di Martino
author_sort Roberta Censi
collection DOAJ
description Drugs with low water solubility are predisposed to poor and variable oral bioavailability and, therefore, to variability in clinical response, that might be overcome through an appropriate formulation of the drug. Polymorphs (anhydrous and solvate/hydrate forms) may resolve these bioavailability problems, but they can be a challenge to ensure physicochemical stability for the entire shelf life of the drug product. Since clinical failures of polymorph drugs have not been uncommon, and some of them have been entirely unexpected, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) has required preliminary and exhaustive screening studies to identify and characterize all the polymorph crystal forms for each drug. In the past, the polymorphism of many drugs was detected fortuitously or through manual time consuming methods; today, drug crystal engineering, in particular, combinatorial chemistry and high-throughput screening, makes it possible to easily and exhaustively identify stable polymorphic and/or hydrate/dehydrate forms of poorly soluble drugs, in order to overcome bioavailability related problems or clinical failures. This review describes the concepts involved, provides examples of drugs characterized by poor solubility for which polymorphism has proven important, outlines the state-of-the-art technologies and discusses the pertinent regulations.
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spelling doaj.art-b2db625969f7481db87645dff5b146f72022-12-22T01:14:01ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492015-10-012010187591877610.3390/molecules201018759molecules201018759Polymorph Impact on the Bioavailability and Stability of Poorly Soluble DrugsRoberta Censi0Piera Di Martino1School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, via S. Agostino, 1, Camerino 62032, ItalySchool of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, via S. Agostino, 1, Camerino 62032, ItalyDrugs with low water solubility are predisposed to poor and variable oral bioavailability and, therefore, to variability in clinical response, that might be overcome through an appropriate formulation of the drug. Polymorphs (anhydrous and solvate/hydrate forms) may resolve these bioavailability problems, but they can be a challenge to ensure physicochemical stability for the entire shelf life of the drug product. Since clinical failures of polymorph drugs have not been uncommon, and some of them have been entirely unexpected, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) has required preliminary and exhaustive screening studies to identify and characterize all the polymorph crystal forms for each drug. In the past, the polymorphism of many drugs was detected fortuitously or through manual time consuming methods; today, drug crystal engineering, in particular, combinatorial chemistry and high-throughput screening, makes it possible to easily and exhaustively identify stable polymorphic and/or hydrate/dehydrate forms of poorly soluble drugs, in order to overcome bioavailability related problems or clinical failures. This review describes the concepts involved, provides examples of drugs characterized by poor solubility for which polymorphism has proven important, outlines the state-of-the-art technologies and discusses the pertinent regulations.http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/10/18759polymorphismpoorly soluble drugpolymorphism screeningregulatory issues
spellingShingle Roberta Censi
Piera Di Martino
Polymorph Impact on the Bioavailability and Stability of Poorly Soluble Drugs
Molecules
polymorphism
poorly soluble drug
polymorphism screening
regulatory issues
title Polymorph Impact on the Bioavailability and Stability of Poorly Soluble Drugs
title_full Polymorph Impact on the Bioavailability and Stability of Poorly Soluble Drugs
title_fullStr Polymorph Impact on the Bioavailability and Stability of Poorly Soluble Drugs
title_full_unstemmed Polymorph Impact on the Bioavailability and Stability of Poorly Soluble Drugs
title_short Polymorph Impact on the Bioavailability and Stability of Poorly Soluble Drugs
title_sort polymorph impact on the bioavailability and stability of poorly soluble drugs
topic polymorphism
poorly soluble drug
polymorphism screening
regulatory issues
url http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/10/18759
work_keys_str_mv AT robertacensi polymorphimpactonthebioavailabilityandstabilityofpoorlysolubledrugs
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